THE RELEVANCE OF LANGUAGE DOCUMENTATION, ARCHIVES AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

Abstract

For generations, historians, archaeologists, anthropologists and biologists have regarded humans as the central figures in the origin of language. The astonishing fact of human history is that they cannot do without language and this has brought about different languages being spoken. These languages have been the source of communication for human beings, and without it, man’s existence is irrelevant. There is the need for language documentation to accommodate the future generation. This paper addresses a set of issues related to language documentation that are not often explicitly dealt with in academic publications, yet are highly important for the development and success of this new discipline. This title “The Relevance of Language documentation, archives, and indigenous knowledge systems” explores how language and documentation practices can serve as tools in preserving and revitalizing indigenous knowledge systems. It discusses the relevance of language documentation, archives, and indigenous knowledge systems. It discusses the importance of culturally sensitive documentation method systems; the paper examines the ethical considerations involved in archiving indigenous knowledge. The study was largely library-based and depended exclusively on secondary documents. In relating the research, the researcher adopted the descriptive and explanatory approaches. The study hinges on Linguistic Relativity Theory that was propounded by Edward Sapir (1929) and Benjamin Lee Whorf (1956). By highlighting the need for collaboration between indigenous communities and researchers, this work underscores the necessity of respecting indigenous rights, worldviews, and language as integral elements in the documentation and preservation of their knowledge systems. This study between language, documentation and archives presents an opportunity to reframe knowledge practices, acknowledging indigenous contributions to humanity’s collective understanding. The researcher recommends that this type of study should be inculcated in the Nigerian policy so as to make sure that languages are documented both traditionally and digitally for the generations to come.