Cultural Ecologist
This title of “cultural ecologist” has a very deep meaning. On the one hand the awareness for the natural environment, plants and animals becomes higher day by day. The same could be said about the awareness for the cultural heritage, cultural diversity.
Cultural ecology means a respectful and caring attitude towards ALL cultures and languages, the same as when applied to the natural environment. A culture or its language as the most significant characteristic of that culture, does not belong only to that specific ethnic group or community, it belongs to the whole mankind.
A culture and its language very often represent a way of thinking, a specific approach to problems in life; that is why its care and preservation is necessary. Each time a language disappears a way of thinking disappears, and consequently there is one lost solution to problems in life. Languages that have been spoken for many centuries can not be left to die, that is a cultural legacy; the present generation borrows from the previous generation and has to be transmitted to the next generation. The same with Mother Nature, the present generation has the moral obligation of passing it to the next generation in the same or better condition. This is our moral responsibility as human beings.
But not only that, Lets think for a moment. Why do we travel? Travelling to different countries would be very boring if every body was the same, and we all think the same, eat the same and speak the same language. This world is interesting because there are many ways of thinking and the language is the main support for that thinking and approach to life. When a language is lost, a way of thinking disappears an approach to problem solving is lost.
Imagine the “firefly” disappears; the scientist world would loose a big opportunity to study and learn from that little insect. That little insect is a contribution to mankind progress. How is possible to produce cold light? The “firefly” can provide some clues when trying to answer this question and that can be used for our own progress. By caring and studying the different animals and plants we can learn about nature and about ourselves. That is why so important to preserve them.
Would not be the same when it comes to culture and languages? That is why the importance of cultural ecology. All languages, big and small are important. But special care should be taken to protect the weak and the minority languages.
A Basque Japanese cultural ecologist
Takashi Mendibarren Yamamoto
www.goihata.com
Tags: Basque English translator, Japanese Basque interpreter, Japanese Basque translator