What we lose when we let languages and cultures die | Bruno Beidacki | TEDxKentState

Summary

The speaker recounts his experience of being mistaken for not being Brazilian due to his skin color, highlighting the issue of identity and cultural preservation. He shares a story from his time in Macau, where language loss due to colonization and digitization errors has left individuals unable to trace their heritage. The talk emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural diversity and languages to maintain historical knowledge and personal identity. The speaker suggests investing in language learning, promoting cultural events, embracing diversity, and fostering empathy to combat cultural loss and encourage a world of diverse traditions and beliefs.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The speaker moved to the U.S. in 2014 and experienced a culture shock when someone doubted his Brazilian identity due to his skin color.
• 💔 An encounter with a girl who questioned his Brazilian identity sparked a realization about the potential identity crisis faced by those unaware of their roots.
• 🌏 In 2017, the speaker's research in Macau on cultural preservation led to meeting Zhang, whose story highlighted the importance of language in understanding one's heritage.
• 📜 The loss of language, such as the Portuguese documents in Macau, can lead to a loss of historical knowledge and personal identity.
• 🏺 Over half of the world's 7,000 languages are endangered, which poses a significant risk to cultural and historical preservation.
• 🌱 Investing in cultural preservation efforts, such as affordable language learning classes, can help combat the loss of languages and cultural diversity.
• 🎭 Promoting artistic and cultural events can raise awareness about the importance of language and cultural preservation.
• 🌈 Embracing diversity and avoiding forced assimilation allows for a richer cultural tapestry in society.
• 🤝 Being empathetic and curious about others' cultures can lead to a better understanding and appreciation of the world's diversity.
• 🌟 The speaker's personal growth is evident as he no longer feels the need to exaggerate his accent, reflecting a broader acceptance of cultural diversity.
• 🌍 A globalized world should celebrate cultural diversity and free expression of traditions and beliefs, rather than striving for a uniformity of opinions and behaviors.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial impression of American girls when he moved to the U.S.?

The speaker initially thought that American girls were cute and he was excited about the prospect of having a great time in college because of this.

Why did the speaker exaggerate his accent when he first met the girl?

He exaggerated his accent to appear more foreign and charming, hoping it would make a good impression on the girl.

What was the girl's reaction that led to the end of the speaker's infatuation?

The girl's reaction was one of disbelief and stereotype when she said, 'No way, you're too white to be Brazilian,' which felt like a dagger to the speaker's heart.

How did the speaker's perspective change after the encounter with the girl?

The speaker's perspective changed as he realized the importance of cultural identity and the potential for identity crises when people are judged based on stereotypes.

What was the main topic of the speaker's research in Macau?

The main topic of the speaker's research in Macau was cultural preservation and the importance of not letting languages die.

Why was Kyung Zhang unable to learn about his past after discovering his biological family?

Kyung Zhang was unable to learn about his past because the documents related to his adoption were originally in Portuguese and were thrown away due to a lack of qualified employees to translate and preserve them when they were being digitized.

What is the significance of preserving languages according to the speaker?

Preserving languages is significant because it prevents cultural and historical loss, and helps individuals understand their identity by knowing where they come from.

What is one of the ways the speaker suggests to help solve the problem of cultural loss?

One way to help solve the problem of cultural loss is to invest more in cultural preservation efforts, such as offering more affordable language learning classes.

Why did the speaker feel proud at the polyglot conference in New York City?

The speaker felt proud because he could speak three and a half languages, but this feeling was challenged when he saw others who could converse in as many as 15 or 16 languages.

What is the speaker's view on assimilation and cultural diversity?

The speaker believes that we should stop forcing people to assimilate and embrace their own beliefs and traditions. He argues for a world of cultural diversity and free expression of traditions and beliefs, rather than striving for a singularity of opinions and behaviors.

What is the speaker's final message about the importance of cultural diversity?

The speaker's final message is that a globalized world should mean a world of cultural diversity and free expression of traditions and beliefs, and that the real world needs all cultures to coexist and be valued.