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

TEDx Talks

21 Aug 201807:23

Summary

TLDRThe 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.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Cultural Identity and Language Preservation

The speaker shares a personal anecdote about moving to the U.S. in 2014 and meeting a girl who made a prejudiced comment about his ethnicity. This experience led to a broader discussion on the importance of cultural identity and the preservation of languages. The speaker emphasizes the significance of understanding one's roots and how language plays a critical role in maintaining cultural heritage. He recounts his time in Macau, where he met Kyung Zhang, whose story highlights the consequences of language loss due to the lack of preservation efforts. Zhang's inability to trace his biological roots underscores the broader issue of thousands of languages facing extinction, which not only leads to a cultural loss but also a historical one, as written records are key to understanding our past.

05:02

🌟 Promoting Cultural Diversity and Empathy

In the second paragraph, the speaker discusses potential solutions to the problem of cultural and language loss. He suggests investing in cultural preservation efforts, offering affordable language learning classes, and promoting artistic and cultural events to raise awareness and inspire individuals to help save languages. The speaker also advocates for an end to forced assimilation and encourages embracing diverse cultures. He stresses the importance of empathy and compassion, urging people to engage with those who are different from them to foster understanding and learning. The speaker concludes by emphasizing that a globalized world should celebrate cultural diversity and free expression of traditions and beliefs, rather than striving for a uniformity of opinions and behaviors.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cultural Preservation

Cultural preservation refers to the act of maintaining and protecting a group's cultural heritage, which includes traditions, languages, and customs. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of cultural preservation by discussing the potential loss of historical knowledge and personal identity that comes with the extinction of languages. The example of Zhang, who was unable to learn about his past due to the loss of Portuguese documents, illustrates the impact of not preserving cultural elements.

💡Identity Crisis

An identity crisis is a period of uncertainty and confusion about one's identity, often stemming from a disconnect with one's cultural or familial roots. The video uses the speaker's hypothetical scenario of not knowing his family's origins to illustrate how an identity crisis could occur, affecting a person's sense of self and belonging. This concept ties into the broader theme of cultural preservation and the importance of knowing one's heritage.

💡Language Extinction

Language extinction is the phenomenon where a language dies out, often because its speakers shift to a more dominant language. The video mentions that over half of the world's 7,000 languages are in danger of extinction, which not only leads to a cultural loss but also a historical one, as languages carry unique knowledge and perspectives. The speaker argues for the importance of preventing language extinction to maintain cultural and historical diversity.

💡Assimilation

Assimilation is the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural traits of another group, often the dominant culture. The video critiques the practice of forcing assimilation, suggesting that it leads to the erosion of cultural diversity. Instead, the speaker advocates for embracing and celebrating the cultural differences that immigrants bring, which enriches society.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In the context of the video, empathy is presented as a tool for fostering cultural understanding. The speaker encourages viewers to approach others with curiosity and an open mind, asking about the cultural significance behind their behaviors or traditions. This can lead to learning and appreciation of diversity.

💡Cultural Diversity

Cultural diversity refers to the variety of cultures present in a society, characterized by differences in language, religion, food, and customs. The video speaker argues that a globalized world should celebrate cultural diversity rather than strive for a uniformity of opinions and behaviors. Cultural diversity is portrayed as a strength that enriches the global community.

💡Stereotyping

Stereotyping is the act of making assumptions about people based on their perceived group characteristics. The video recounts an anecdote where the speaker was stereotyped as 'too white' to be Brazilian, highlighting the ignorance and harm that can come from such assumptions. The incident underscores the importance of challenging stereotypes and embracing individuality.

💡Globalization

Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of the world through economic, cultural, and technological exchanges. The video discusses globalization in the context of cultural diversity, suggesting that it should lead to a world where various traditions and beliefs are freely expressed, rather than a homogenized world where everyone conforms to a single standard.

💡Language Learning

Language learning is the process of acquiring proficiency in a new language. The video speaker shares his experience at a polyglot conference, where he was inspired by individuals who spoke many languages. He suggests that society should invest in more affordable language learning classes to help preserve endangered languages and promote cultural understanding.

💡Cultural Events

Cultural events are gatherings or activities that celebrate a particular culture or tradition. The video speaker suggests promoting more cultural events such as music festivals, film exhibitions, and theater performances as a way to raise awareness about the importance of cultural preservation and to inspire individuals to dedicate their lives to saving endangered languages and traditions.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is the practice of a powerful country ruling other countries, often leading to the imposition of the colonizer's language and culture. The video references Portuguese colonization of Macau and how it affected the preservation of documents in Portuguese, illustrating the impact of colonialism on cultural preservation and the accessibility of historical records.

Highlights

Narrator moved to the U.S. in 2014 and met a girl, using charm and accent to impress her.

The girl's comment about his appearance not matching his Brazilian origin led to a realization about identity.

The importance of knowing one's roots and how it shapes identity was emphasized.

In 2017, the narrator went to Macau to research cultural preservation and the importance of language.

Met Kyung Zhang, a man unable to trace his biological family due to lost Portuguese documents.

The loss of language can lead to a cultural and historical loss, affecting identity.

Over half of the world's 7,000 languages are in danger of extinction.

The narrator suggests investing in cultural preservation efforts to combat language loss.

Affordable language learning classes can help preserve languages.

The idea that everyone could speak at least two languages was presented.

Promoting artistic and cultural events can raise awareness and help preserve languages.

The narrator argues against forced assimilation and for embracing diverse cultures.

Being empathetic and compassionate can educate people about different cultures.

The narrator shares a personal story of changing his accent to impress others.

A globalized world should celebrate cultural diversity, not strive for uniformity.

The narrator concludes by emphasizing the importance of preserving one's culture.