thank you and good evening my name is cola I’m a
and good evening my name is cola I’m a
and good evening my name is cola I’m a linguist and I know the first question
linguist and I know the first question
linguist and I know the first question you would want to ask me now is how many
you would want to ask me now is how many
you would want to ask me now is how many languages do you speak it’s an
languages do you speak it’s an
languages do you speak it’s an interesting question and it always seems
interesting question and it always seems
interesting question and it always seems to call you know you know every time you
to call you know you know every time you
to call you know you know every time you see a linguist you seem to call for that
see a linguist you seem to call for that
see a linguist you seem to call for that kind of question of course the terrible
kind of question of course the terrible
kind of question of course the terrible question I would say so because like
question I would say so because like
question I would say so because like asking a mechanic how many cars do you
asking a mechanic how many cars do you
asking a mechanic how many cars do you have right yeah he’s a mechanic he walks
have right yeah he’s a mechanic he walks
have right yeah he’s a mechanic he walks with cars but his the walk is not in
with cars but his the walk is not in
with cars but his the walk is not in owning and driving the cast now that
owning and driving the cast now that
owning and driving the cast now that doesn’t mean that linguist shouldn’t
doesn’t mean that linguist shouldn’t
doesn’t mean that linguist shouldn’t learn many languages many of us do I
learn many languages many of us do I
learn many languages many of us do I speak a couple of languages myself again
speak a couple of languages myself again
speak a couple of languages myself again that’s not the point Oh Maya and I
that’s not the point Oh Maya and I
that’s not the point Oh Maya and I talked yesterday about Nigerians and the
talked yesterday about Nigerians and the
talked yesterday about Nigerians and the attitude to languages i was wondering a
attitude to languages i was wondering a
attitude to languages i was wondering a couple of days ago about why the people
couple of days ago about why the people
couple of days ago about why the people who speak more than one or two languages
who speak more than one or two languages
who speak more than one or two languages in I journalism of English now those who
in I journalism of English now those who
in I journalism of English now those who have moved from one place to another to
have moved from one place to another to
have moved from one place to another to live and that kind of multilingualism
live and that kind of multilingualism
live and that kind of multilingualism happens only among those who have moved
happens only among those who have moved
happens only among those who have moved not those who are hosting them you know
not those who are hosting them you know
not those who are hosting them you know and I’ve wondered why you know is it
and I’ve wondered why you know is it
and I’ve wondered why you know is it motivation educational syllabus and a
motivation educational syllabus and a
motivation educational syllabus and a number of other things that’s not what
number of other things that’s not what
number of other things that’s not what I’m talking about today I’m going to
I’m talking about today I’m going to
I’m talking about today I’m going to show you a little video and I’m going to
show you a little video and I’m going to
show you a little video and I’m going to tell you a little bit about my work and
tell you a little bit about my work and
tell you a little bit about my work and how I think we should look at
how I think we should look at
how I think we should look at multilingualism in Nigeria and how we
multilingualism in Nigeria and how we
multilingualism in Nigeria and how we can use technology to change things how
can use technology to change things how
can use technology to change things how we can use technology to preserve our
we can use technology to preserve our
we can use technology to preserve our own languages and how we can bring a
own languages and how we can bring a
own languages and how we can bring a change into how we transmit these
change into how we transmit these
change into how we transmit these languages to the next generation the
languages to the next generation the
languages to the next generation the video is going to be up now
correctly for Europe and America my dad
correctly for Europe and America my dad will watch this and be mortified because
will watch this and be mortified because
will watch this and be mortified because here it’s actually all year low wall is
here it’s actually all year low wall is
here it’s actually all year low wall is how you say but if I were to say that
how you say but if I were to say that
how you say but if I were to say that don’t try don’t even go there I don’t
don’t try don’t even go there I don’t
don’t try don’t even go there I don’t know what’s gonna happen I really ya
know what’s gonna happen I really ya
know what’s gonna happen I really ya know Oprah was army she told the nation
know Oprah was army she told the nation
know Oprah was army she told the nation how to do it let’s stick with her yellow
how to do it let’s stick with her yellow
how to do it let’s stick with her yellow okay yes so so here’s oo yello yello BOS
okay yes so so here’s oo yello yello BOS
okay yes so so here’s oo yello yello BOS what I’m saying Oprah was on last week
what I’m saying Oprah was on last week
what I’m saying Oprah was on last week she told me how to say who he said were
she told me how to say who he said were
she told me how to say who he said were yellow well yeah but it really is a year
yellow well yeah but it really is a year
yellow well yeah but it really is a year lower which is so hypocritical of my dad
lower which is so hypocritical of my dad
lower which is so hypocritical of my dad because he gets everyone’s name wrong
because he gets everyone’s name wrong
because he gets everyone’s name wrong mm-hmm and what do you mean well so I
mm-hmm and what do you mean well so I
mm-hmm and what do you mean well so I did a film with that Tom Cruise it’s
did a film with that Tom Cruise it’s
did a film with that Tom Cruise it’s what this movie you did with Tom crew up
what this movie you did with Tom crew up
what this movie you did with Tom crew up guys gonna movie star for 30 years so
guys gonna movie star for 30 years so
guys gonna movie star for 30 years so and then I did that Lincoln with a
and then I did that Lincoln with a
and then I did that Lincoln with a Steven Spielberg yeah I heard you are
Steven Spielberg yeah I heard you are
Steven Spielberg yeah I heard you are doing a movie with Steven Spielberg I
lose your dad is a picture that meeting
lose your dad is a picture that meeting over for the first time ah
over for the first time ah
over for the first time ah love home so he’s cute this is how this
love home so he’s cute this is how this
love home so he’s cute this is how this is how bad it is that even today and he
is how bad it is that even today and he
is how bad it is that even today and he knows Oprah he’s met opera I will be
knows Oprah he’s met opera I will be
knows Oprah he’s met opera I will be free okay I hope you enjoyed that I did
free okay I hope you enjoyed that I did
free okay I hope you enjoyed that I did for a little while and then I realized
for a little while and then I realized
for a little while and then I realized that it was quite insulting I’ll tell
that it was quite insulting I’ll tell
that it was quite insulting I’ll tell you why it was funny and cute and David
you why it was funny and cute and David
you why it was funny and cute and David Oyelowo wanting to sell this movie Selma
Oyelowo wanting to sell this movie Selma
Oyelowo wanting to sell this movie Selma had to make the host feel comfortable
had to make the host feel comfortable
had to make the host feel comfortable with the idea that a nigerian name is
with the idea that a nigerian name is
with the idea that a nigerian name is difficult to pronounce and that is a
difficult to pronounce and that is a
difficult to pronounce and that is a common theme you would probably find in
common theme you would probably find in
common theme you would probably find in many American mostly media about how
many American mostly media about how
many American mostly media about how African names for some reason I just
African names for some reason I just
African names for some reason I just that exotic and hard to pronounce now
that exotic and hard to pronounce now
that exotic and hard to pronounce now many of you probably you know important
many of you probably you know important
many of you probably you know important a stereotype that for some reason you
a stereotype that for some reason you
a stereotype that for some reason you know because your European is hard to
know because your European is hard to
know because your European is hard to pronounce you’ve seen Europeans trying
pronounce you’ve seen Europeans trying
pronounce you’ve seen Europeans trying to pronounce African names and making
to pronounce African names and making
to pronounce African names and making the mess of it and it’s wrong now I did
the mess of it and it’s wrong now I did
the mess of it and it’s wrong now I did my Master’s studying whether that’s
my Master’s studying whether that’s
my Master’s studying whether that’s actually true I spent two years doing a
actually true I spent two years doing a
actually true I spent two years doing a research about those race had anything
research about those race had anything
research about those race had anything to do with the capability of human
to do with the capability of human
to do with the capability of human beings to learn another language and the
beings to learn another language and the
beings to learn another language and the result of course after studying a number
result of course after studying a number
result of course after studying a number of subjects is that it doesn’t it’s not
of subjects is that it doesn’t it’s not
of subjects is that it doesn’t it’s not your race that determines whether you
your race that determines whether you
your race that determines whether you can speak or pronounce another person’s
can speak or pronounce another person’s
can speak or pronounce another person’s name is your attitude to it and you
name is your attitude to it and you
name is your attitude to it and you exposure to information relevant
exposure to information relevant
exposure to information relevant information so while watching the video
information so while watching the video
information so while watching the video I said there isn’t why Jimmy Fallon
I said there isn’t why Jimmy Fallon
I said there isn’t why Jimmy Fallon couldn’t pronounce all yellow one said
couldn’t pronounce all yellow one said
couldn’t pronounce all yellow one said the yellow world was of course because
the yellow world was of course because
the yellow world was of course because it’s funny and you could make it
it’s funny and you could make it
it’s funny and you could make it audience laughs but also because there’s
audience laughs but also because there’s
audience laughs but also because there’s no space online where you can find that
no space online where you can find that
no space online where you can find that kind of information about African
kind of information about African
kind of information about African languages so Africans for years have
languages so Africans for years have
languages so Africans for years have been able to pronounce Schwarzenegger or
been able to pronounce Schwarzenegger or
been able to pronounce Schwarzenegger or Eisenhower or dr. F ski etc and we do
Eisenhower or dr. F ski etc and we do
Eisenhower or dr. F ski etc and we do this quite easily because we have
this quite easily because we have
this quite easily because we have avenues and we also try your players
avenues and we also try your players
avenues and we also try your players don’t do it because they don’t try and
don’t do it because they don’t try and
don’t do it because they don’t try and also because there’s no venue for it so
also because there’s no venue for it so
also because there’s no venue for it so that
that
that was hard the idea of a Yoruba name
was hard the idea of a Yoruba name
was hard the idea of a Yoruba name dictionary came to play so you’re one in
dictionary came to play so you’re one in
dictionary came to play so you’re one in addition I the idea was to find a place
addition I the idea was to find a place
addition I the idea was to find a place online where you could go and find the
online where you could go and find the
online where you could go and find the meaning the pronunciation the spelling
meaning the pronunciation the spelling
meaning the pronunciation the spelling and its own marking of your by names he
and its own marking of your by names he
and its own marking of your by names he was going to start with Yoruba in a way
was going to start with Yoruba in a way
was going to start with Yoruba in a way here we also got volunteers to start the
here we also got volunteers to start the
here we also got volunteers to start the e-book version as well the idea is to
e-book version as well the idea is to
e-book version as well the idea is to have a place like that online or we can
have a place like that online or we can
have a place like that online or we can document all African experiences and
document all African experiences and
document all African experiences and with all of this because over time as
with all of this because over time as
with all of this because over time as many of us know we don’t speak our
many of us know we don’t speak our
many of us know we don’t speak our language is remote our children we move
language is remote our children we move
language is remote our children we move and leave around other people we don’t
and leave around other people we don’t
and leave around other people we don’t want to lend their own languages I’m
want to lend their own languages I’m
want to lend their own languages I’m don’t let us we result into what I call
don’t let us we result into what I call
don’t let us we result into what I call pathetic biting realism in which we
pathetic biting realism in which we
pathetic biting realism in which we don’t speak our language as well but we
don’t speak our language as well but we
don’t speak our language as well but we don’t also speak English well as many of
don’t also speak English well as many of
don’t also speak English well as many of you would know when you interact with
you would know when you interact with
you would know when you interact with people so in the end we’re losing on
people so in the end we’re losing on
people so in the end we’re losing on both fronts and the reason why we don’t
both fronts and the reason why we don’t
both fronts and the reason why we don’t do that because our parents are not
do that because our parents are not
do that because our parents are not sending language to us and we also am
sending language to us and we also am
sending language to us and we also am spending time looking for places where
spending time looking for places where
spending time looking for places where we can find these things another when
we can find these things another when
we can find these things another when you write in Microsoft Word you put an
you write in Microsoft Word you put an
you write in Microsoft Word you put an African name you see the red line under
African name you see the red line under
African name you see the red line under it and the reason why is that because
it and the reason why is that because
it and the reason why is that because the people who make those softwares
the people who make those softwares
the people who make those softwares first they don’t have information
first they don’t have information
first they don’t have information relevant to help them know that this
relevant to help them know that this
relevant to help them know that this name is real and also because we haven’t
name is real and also because we haven’t
name is real and also because we haven’t done much work in that direction as well
done much work in that direction as well
done much work in that direction as well and so that’s what we did or all of that
and so that’s what we did or all of that
and so that’s what we did or all of that so it pleased to learn about languages
so it pleased to learn about languages
so it pleased to learn about languages and pronunciation etc why are these
and pronunciation etc why are these
and pronunciation etc why are these things important they’re important
things important they’re important
things important they’re important because our languages are who we are
because our languages are who we are
because our languages are who we are Nigeria has about 521 languages after
Nigeria has about 521 languages after
Nigeria has about 521 languages after the last check about 12 of them are
the last check about 12 of them are
the last check about 12 of them are suppose to be endangered or threatened
suppose to be endangered or threatened
suppose to be endangered or threatened in some way reason why we don’t know
in some way reason why we don’t know
in some way reason why we don’t know exactly how many are threatened is
exactly how many are threatened is
exactly how many are threatened is because when we do sensors we don’t ask
because when we do sensors we don’t ask
because when we do sensors we don’t ask questions about how many languages do
questions about how many languages do
questions about how many languages do people speak perhaps because of ethnic
people speak perhaps because of ethnic
people speak perhaps because of ethnic suspicions a number of other things we
suspicions a number of other things we
suspicions a number of other things we don’t ask religion which is fine I don’t
don’t ask religion which is fine I don’t
don’t ask religion which is fine I don’t care but without also donors coming
care but without also donors coming
care but without also donors coming along with this people speak I
along with this people speak I
along with this people speak I understand that for political reasons
understand that for political reasons
understand that for political reasons many people don’t want to say how many
many people don’t want to say how many
many people don’t want to say how many ethnic groups
ethnic groups
ethnic groups you know exist grew afraid that somebody
you know exist grew afraid that somebody
you know exist grew afraid that somebody will inflate etc but I’m interested in
will inflate etc but I’m interested in
will inflate etc but I’m interested in knowing how many languages exist so you
knowing how many languages exist so you
knowing how many languages exist so you ask somebody help what’s your first
ask somebody help what’s your first
ask somebody help what’s your first language on watch a second language and
language on watch a second language and
language on watch a second language and what other language do you speak those
what other language do you speak those
what other language do you speak those things would help us to find out exactly
things would help us to find out exactly
things would help us to find out exactly how many languages a viable in the
how many languages a viable in the
how many languages a viable in the country but my work in your venom come
country but my work in your venom come
country but my work in your venom come is also to create other news to make
is also to create other news to make
is also to create other news to make sure this language is survived over time
sure this language is survived over time
sure this language is survived over time and so that when adults who actually
and so that when adults who actually
and so that when adults who actually have all this information and who are
have all this information and who are
have all this information and who are probably helping us now to document them
probably helping us now to document them
probably helping us now to document them and no longer here we’ll have enough
and no longer here we’ll have enough
and no longer here we’ll have enough places to find them the thing about
places to find them the thing about
places to find them the thing about language endangerment is that it is not
language endangerment is that it is not
language endangerment is that it is not always about what languages will pass on
always about what languages will pass on
always about what languages will pass on to their children which is relevant as
to their children which is relevant as
to their children which is relevant as I’ve mentioned earlier but also what
I’ve mentioned earlier but also what
I’ve mentioned earlier but also what languages are we using for in technology
languages are we using for in technology
languages are we using for in technology because as we realize technology is the
because as we realize technology is the
because as we realize technology is the way to the future is a you know it’s
way to the future is a you know it’s
way to the future is a you know it’s going to take all of us from here into
going to take all of us from here into
going to take all of us from here into the next generation and if we don’t
the next generation and if we don’t
the next generation and if we don’t bring our languages as well into this
bring our languages as well into this
bring our languages as well into this technology you’re going to find
technology you’re going to find
technology you’re going to find ourselves left behind big companies like
ourselves left behind big companies like
ourselves left behind big companies like Google and Facebook etc I invested in
Google and Facebook etc I invested in
Google and Facebook etc I invested in artificial intelligence but they are
artificial intelligence but they are
artificial intelligence but they are doing so only for big languages and why
doing so only for big languages and why
doing so only for big languages and why is that because we haven’t shown that we
is that because we haven’t shown that we
is that because we haven’t shown that we care enough about our languages enough
care enough about our languages enough
care enough about our languages enough for them to be viable for these purposes
for them to be viable for these purposes
for them to be viable for these purposes so what do we do next what’s next to be
so what do we do next what’s next to be
so what do we do next what’s next to be done I think all of us have a
done I think all of us have a
done I think all of us have a responsibility first to speak our
responsibility first to speak our
responsibility first to speak our languages also to learn the languages of
languages also to learn the languages of
languages also to learn the languages of our neighbors and to find a way to not
our neighbors and to find a way to not
our neighbors and to find a way to not just learn English I mean English is
just learn English I mean English is
just learn English I mean English is going to be there English is always
going to be there English is always
going to be there English is always everywhere you go everywhere you look on
everywhere you go everywhere you look on
everywhere you go everywhere you look on TV etc you always find English but your
TV etc you always find English but your
TV etc you always find English but your own language is what you have it’s your
own language is what you have it’s your
own language is what you have it’s your own heritage what I’m doing us in my own
own heritage what I’m doing us in my own
own heritage what I’m doing us in my own role is to find every other way I can to
role is to find every other way I can to
role is to find every other way I can to contribute to the documentation of these
contribute to the documentation of these
contribute to the documentation of these languages with the tools technology
languages with the tools technology
languages with the tools technology gives us I will talk a little about the
gives us I will talk a little about the
gives us I will talk a little about the the campaign we had with Twitter which
the campaign we had with Twitter which
the campaign we had with Twitter which was in 2014 when Twitter was translating
was in 2014 when Twitter was translating
was in 2014 when Twitter was translating the platform they were allowing the
the platform they were allowing the
the platform they were allowing the platform to be translated in many
platform to be translated in many
platform to be translated in many languages they
languages they
languages they think they have added one European
think they have added one European
think they have added one European language at the time and then we thought
language at the time and then we thought
language at the time and then we thought that why why can’t we have an African
that why why can’t we have an African
that why why can’t we have an African language I’m suggested Yoruba people
language I’m suggested Yoruba people
language I’m suggested Yoruba people laughed and now we created a day to
laughed and now we created a day to
laughed and now we created a day to pressure them and do everything we can
pressure them and do everything we can
pressure them and do everything we can to make sure they can we want you’re
to make sure they can we want you’re
to make sure they can we want you’re about to be trans to that we translated
about to be trans to that we translated
about to be trans to that we translated into yoga as well and we spend two years
into yoga as well and we spend two years
into yoga as well and we spend two years complaining and tweeting at them and we
complaining and tweeting at them and we
complaining and tweeting at them and we know the baton eventually that came
know the baton eventually that came
know the baton eventually that came through so in summary please run through
through so in summary please run through
through so in summary please run through the year you have here so I can move
the year you have here so I can move
the year you have here so I can move forward okay I want to talk about yeah
forward okay I want to talk about yeah
forward okay I want to talk about yeah we were traveling yesterday and the
we were traveling yesterday and the
we were traveling yesterday and the airline run through it its safety
airline run through it its safety
airline run through it its safety procedures in Nigeria language as well
procedures in Nigeria language as well
procedures in Nigeria language as well as in English I thought that was a very
as in English I thought that was a very
as in English I thought that was a very great great idea about how we want to
great great idea about how we want to
great great idea about how we want to present ourselves how we wanted language
present ourselves how we wanted language
present ourselves how we wanted language to survive we have to find ways of
to survive we have to find ways of
to survive we have to find ways of making sure our languages work not just
making sure our languages work not just
making sure our languages work not just English we’re talking about this earlier
English we’re talking about this earlier
English we’re talking about this earlier today as well if you have safety
today as well if you have safety
today as well if you have safety procedures in a language that you are
procedures in a language that you are
procedures in a language that you are not sure everybody understands then
not sure everybody understands then
not sure everybody understands then you’re not really giving you know safety
you’re not really giving you know safety
you’re not really giving you know safety instructions to people so if we have all
instructions to people so if we have all
instructions to people so if we have all our major languages being able to
our major languages being able to
our major languages being able to function in different domains then
function in different domains then
function in different domains then you’ll find that you are able to
you’ll find that you are able to
you’ll find that you are able to transmit these languages again from one
transmit these languages again from one
transmit these languages again from one generation to the other let’s go through
generation to the other let’s go through
generation to the other let’s go through a little bit I’m go to the conclusion
a little bit I’m go to the conclusion
a little bit I’m go to the conclusion okay all right this last one is about
okay all right this last one is about
okay all right this last one is about technology I’ve talked about artificial
technology I’ve talked about artificial
technology I’ve talked about artificial intelligence and how Siri and all of
intelligence and how Siri and all of
intelligence and how Siri and all of these things are in english and in
these things are in english and in
these things are in english and in french with the Yoruba name project
french with the Yoruba name project
french with the Yoruba name project we’re trying to create something of a
we’re trying to create something of a
we’re trying to create something of a text-to-speech functionality which is an
text-to-speech functionality which is an
text-to-speech functionality which is an ability to make the Machine pronounce an
ability to make the Machine pronounce an
ability to make the Machine pronounce an African language that hasn’t been done
African language that hasn’t been done
African language that hasn’t been done before but we realize that if we can do
before but we realize that if we can do
before but we realize that if we can do that have a machine you can type in a
that have a machine you can type in a
that have a machine you can type in a text and it pronounces the language back
text and it pronounces the language back
text and it pronounces the language back to you
to you
to you for Europa for evil for house and for
for Europa for evil for house and for
for Europa for evil for house and for other languages imagine how much more we
other languages imagine how much more we
other languages imagine how much more we can connect each other connect with each
can connect each other connect with each
can connect each other connect with each other imagine how many grown people who
other imagine how many grown people who
other imagine how many grown people who live in villages are going to be able to
live in villages are going to be able to
live in villages are going to be able to use technology and imagine how that
use technology and imagine how that
use technology and imagine how that technology is going to be able to serve
technology is going to be able to serve
technology is going to be able to serve them much better so in summary complex
them much better so in summary complex
them much better so in summary complex is a good thing and it’s a resource that
is a good thing and it’s a resource that
is a good thing and it’s a resource that we have in Nigeria but importantly we
we have in Nigeria but importantly we
we have in Nigeria but importantly we need to be able to make sure that
need to be able to make sure that
need to be able to make sure that complex they work for us and we have the
complex they work for us and we have the
complex they work for us and we have the tools of technology to make that happen
tools of technology to make that happen
tools of technology to make that happen it’s up to us to make sure we do it as
it’s up to us to make sure we do it as
it’s up to us to make sure we do it as much as we can and not shy away from
much as we can and not shy away from
much as we can and not shy away from their responsibilities thank you
”
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