Applied Sociolinguistics: Bilingualism as a Tool for Expression The Ryukyu Ryuka Renaissance - A Poetic Commentary

Abstract

Bilingualism has an amazing power for it can be manipulated as a tool that can be utilized to redeem dying languages. The Okinawan (Ryukyuan) languages or dialects are recognized by UNESCO as endangered languages. The purpose of this research is to find a way through studying Ryukyuan poetry (Ryuka) to manipulate Bilingualism as a tool to redeem the Okinawan languages and spread the knowledge of the Okinawan culture throughout the world. An original definition of Bilingualism is that it consists of the knowledge of language acquisition. This knowledge is a leading factor of the speaker's identity. The linguistic duty of bilinguals is to provide the next generation with the knowledge of their heritage for historical, sociological, ethical, political means, and purposes. This process of using bilingualism as a re-deemer is done every day in homes and schools. The reason is so that parents who have decided to rear bilingual children will have this power to pass down their treasure of life to the next gen-eration. This is not an easy process because the parents have to equalize the language acquisition to establish a balanced bilingual acquisition within their children's ability in linguistics. Each parent provides the child with the art and duty of learning two languages not just at school but also at home. Choosing schools to meet the goal is also very difficult. Not all schools can provide equal bilingual education. This is why parents provide the child with extracurricular activities such as supplementary exercises to make sure the child is given the chance to grow as a bilingual member of society. When the bilingual tool has successfully been passed down as a heritage to the next generation then the cycle of educational repetition continues to regenerate to preserve their own identity heritage, as a seed, that will grow within their following generation. This is a form of Applied Sociolinguistics that promotes and preserves bilingual acquisition of the language to protect the societal identity. Language is an animal that can live or die. However, "Bilingualism" is the heart of the animal that constantly keeps beating to circulate the "blood identity" that keeps it alive. It is like a tourniquet to supply, support life, and to keep the animal breathing. The blood identity purpose is to find not just how to keep the language alive but to find a way or possibility to communicate with others, to spread the knowledge of the cultural existence or identity that strives, and struggles to stay alive. Each survival is another seed or life. In a way, it is also a data base of not just language and culture but life in itself. The method of keeping a language alive is to utilize every tool possible to interest others so they may be able to reach out, learn the language itself, and to spread the language to others. This report is an original bilingual commentary of Ryuka or traditional Okinawan poems. The research shows how bilingualism can be used as a tool for expression and preservation.