One of the oldest languages in the world is under threat of extinction. The only language in the world spoken solely by Mien indigenous women is receiving attention from Chinese officials. Only a few Mien elder women have knowledge of this ancient language, thus China is eager to preserve it before it completely disappears. China is investing over one million dollars into this project. It will set up a special protection zone and create a museum in Hunan province, which will house written examples of the language.
Mien indigenous group, more commonly known as the Yao, live throughout the mountainous southern China and in other south Asian countries, numbering more than two million. The Mien women, well known for their embroideries and traditional costume designs, have not had a particular status until now. Currently, they are seen as valuable carriers of irreplaceable ancient knowledge, which is quickly disappearing. Whatever facts can be learned and collected concerning this ancient Mien language will be recorded and placed in a museum. However, will the extinction of indigenous women’s language affect the younger Mien generation? Will it become only an example of the bond that the language has created among indigenous women or will it reincarnate into a different form of empowerment for indigenous Mien women?
China’s desire to try and preserve the one of a kind women language is an unexpected step as the women have been and still are experiencing severe repression and gender discrimination in the Republic of China. Having their own secret language, Mien women have created a rare opportunity for themselves to be able to share their thoughts and feelings equally as men did in Mien society. Nevertheless, a tradition of learning the secret language from the older generations is quickly dying. The language is vital for the survival of the Mien women culture as it builds special bonds between generations and empowers Mien women. By losing a language, such as Mien women language, the world will loose part of its collective knowledge. China is acknowledging these facts and taking necessary steps to record the last of the dying Mien women’s language.
