VOA教育报道2024--Language Is 'What Makes Us Human' in New Children's Book

See if you know the answer to this riddle¹:

"I have been around for a very long time. Longer than toys, dogs, or anyone you know.

"My roots go back many centuries. Some of them even longer."

"I can connect you to the past, the present and the future. I make you human."

Can you guess what I am?

The answer is language.

Children's author Victor D.O. Santos asks readers that question in his book, What Makes Us Human. Each page on the book provides a clue to the riddle's final answer. Artist Anna Forlati illustrated² the book.

Santos told VOA Learning English that the book is about the value of language. It is also meant to bring more attention to the world's native languages.

Native and indigenous³ languages are disappearing quickly. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 40 percent of the world's 7,000 languages may disappear by the year 2100.

Santos, who is also an educator and linguist⁴, has studied indigenous languages in his native country, Brazil.

He said that his new book brings "attention to the fact that many languages are disappearing ... (and ) this linguistic⁵ heritage⁶ that we have in the world is slipping through the cracks."

The United Nations has named the years between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. UNESCO says the declaration⁷ is meant to bring worldwide "attention on the critical situation of many indigenous languages." It also says it is meant to provide more resources to protect and revitalize such languages.

Santos said UNESCO offered to partner with him and help expand the book's reach. The book has already been licensed⁸ into 22 different languages. That includes versions in Mapundungun, a language spoken by the Mapuche people in Chile and Argentina, and into Hn?h?u, a language spoken by the Otomí people in Mexico. Santos said the book might soon be published in native Hawaiian as well.

The Chilean government recently published 27,000 copies of the book for public schools, where there is a large percentage of indigenous children.

A large number of cultures and languages are represented in the book. Its final page has a drawing of people saying "hello" in many languages. There are characters saying "hello" in common languages like Arabic, English and Spanish. And indigenous languages from the Xavante people in Brazil and the Cherokee people in the United States are also included.

Another drawing has different scripts, or writing systems, hidden in trees.

One page has drawings of 12 indigenous groups around the world wearing their traditional clothing. The words to go along with the drawing note the fact that indigenous languages around the world are disappearing: "When one of me disappears, a culture may also disappear. A unique way to view and understand the world. Gone. Forever."

Santos said his book "has an adult layer to it. It's not just for kids."

One page has a drawing of a parent and child fleeing a conflict or war. Another person is holding a sign that says, "No War." "I can show you love. But also hurt you," the page reads.

Santos said he was thinking about the war in Ukraine for that page. The drawing referenced¹⁰ a Ukrainian reporter who interrupted a Russian state media report while holding that same sign.

"What Russia is doing to Ukraine is not just attacking their territory and killing¹¹ Ukrainians, but it's denying their culture," said Santos, whose wife is Ukrainian and children have been raised speaking the language. "They're imposing¹² the Russian language in the Ukrainian territory."

Santos said there are several ways to understand the page's message.

"It's to make people aware that words have weight," he said. "Language can be used as a weapon and as a tool. And you can do good, or you can do ill with it."

Words in This Story

riddle - n. a difficult question that is asked as a game and that has a surprising or funny answer

author - n. a person who has written something

indigenous - adj. produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment

linguist - adj. a person who speaks several languages

heritage - n. the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation - usually singular

revitalize - v. to make active, healthy, or energetic again

unique - adj. belonging to or connected with only one particular thing, place, or person

layer - n. a covering piece of material or a part that lies over or under another

reference⁹ - v. the act of referring to something or someone

impose¹³ - v. to establish or create in a forceful or harmful way

1 riddle   

n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜

参考例句：

• The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
• Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。

2 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

3 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

4 linguist   

n.语言学家；精通数种外国语言者

参考例句：

• I used to be a linguist till I become a writer.过去我是个语言学家，后来成了作家。
• Professor Cui has a high reputation as a linguist.崔教授作为语言学家名声很高。

5 linguistic   

adj.语言的，语言学的

参考例句：

• She is pursuing her linguistic researches.她在从事语言学的研究。
• The ability to write is a supreme test of linguistic competence.写作能力是对语言能力的最高形式的测试。

6 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

7 declaration   

n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。

8 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

9 reference   

n.提到，说到，暗示，查看，查阅

参考例句：

• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
• I like to have my reference books within my reach.我喜欢把参考书放到伸手可取的地方。

10 referenced   

adj.参考的，引用的

参考例句：

• The reader is cross-referenced to the entry "center". 读者可参见center词条。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Each new volume is thoroughly referenced. 每本新书都有详细的附注。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

12 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

13 impose   

vt.把…强加于，加重…负担；征收(税款)

参考例句：

• Don't impose yourself on people who don't like you.不要硬缠着不喜欢你的人。
• I don't want to impose on you.我并不想打扰你。