Effects of Assimilation on Indigenous language

In order to understand how assimilation results into language loss one must understand the definition of language loss. Language loss occurs when the fluency of a language disappears over time, making the speakers of the language forget how to speak it. When a specific language is no longer transmitted to younger generations, that is when a language is at the risk of dying. The language officially dies when the number of fluent speakers decrease.

The reasons for a language to die are not definitive. However, when indigenous communities are marginalized and their languages are subordinated, this could be a valid reason for a language to die. Most aboriginal individuals were forced to adhere to mainstream English-speaking society, in order to increase their social mobility. The aboriginal language was made illegal, and the children were punished when they spoke their languages and were told that their languages were primitive. Some children had their mouths washed out with soap.

A victim of language loss and assimilation Darlene Bulprit claimed that she was strapped, and beaten with a pointed stick by teachers for speaking her own language. As a result, Darlene was unable to pass down her native language, along with her heritage to her two children and three grandchildren. She was also unable to communicate with her parents and extended family. There are thousands of Indigenous people who survived the residential school system with many harms, similar to Darlene.

88 of Canada’s Indigenous languages are close to becoming extinct. It is predicted that they won’t be around in the next century. Indigenous languages often link to Indigenous history and culture. The rituals of Indigenous peoples require the language to be passed down from each generation - if the language disappears then traditions, culture and history associated with the language also die out.

The only way to counter the effects that assimilation has had on Indigenous language is by granting First Nations the right to educate their children their own language. Lawyer David Leitch believes the federal government has the right to fund that education

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