The utility of linguistic diversity. A study on the economic value of the Ryukyuan languages

Abstract

Ryūkyū archipelago, stretching for about 1000 kilometres between southern Kyūshū and Taiwan, is home to incredible natural and linguistic diversity, with many endangered species and linguistic varieties. UNESCO Atlas of the World’s languages in danger currently includes 6 Ryūkyūan languages, but there is a high level of internal diversity as well, and sociolinguists count more than 700 local dialects. Similarly to other islands of the Pacific region, Ryūkyūan islands have not been heavily industrialized during the modernization of Japan due to their distance from the mainland and other historical reasons, thus they rely on limited local resources and imports. But what if their linguistic diversity was just another resource to gain concrete benefits from? It is unquestionable that the maintenance and revitalization of heritage languages is important to retrieve one’s cultural identity, as language is the main instrument of transmission of such culture. However, it is also true that there is need of practical applicability of the language so that it can move from “conservation” to “revitalization” and to being used in everyday life. My research takes an interdisciplinary approach to find out how the value of the Ryukyuan languages to the community be be assessed. By analysing the current sociolinguistic situation and language revitalization initiatives, the gaps in such efforts will surface, as well as possible ways to fill them. Then, the use of Ryūkyūan languages in the marketing of local products will be investigated, to show how the choice of language affects potential customers and product’s popularity. Lastly, the linguistic soundscape, carried out in Heiwa-dōri and nearby shopping streets, will offer a cross section of the spoken linguistic background of Naha city, which is at the centre of major Prefectural initiatives and the point of departure for the majority of tourists visiting Okinawa islands. Final overview and interdependence of the topics brought up previously will conclude the research. What could become an implication for further research is the study of the extent to which the economic exploitation of Ryūkyūan languages has a positive effect on their revitalization.