Preserving Our Understanding of the World: A Look Into Aer
Learn how an endangered language tells a multigenerational story of Pakistani culture.
Aer is a uniquely enigmatic local language of Pakistan. Aer, also known as Dhatki, is the mother tongue of Aer people who dwell in the remote rural areas of Sindh and Balochistan. Picture a rugged terrain with rocky mountains and ancient valleys – and it is against this historic backdrop that Aer has been passed down like a precious heirloom from generation to generation.
Yet, the numbers tell a completely different story. The Endangered Languages Project estimates that there are only 200 Aer speakers left in the world. To put that into perspective, that’s fewer people than you’d find in a high school assembly or even in your neighborhood. As elders pass away and younger generations pursue dominant languages like Urdu and English due to socio-economic pressures, Aer inches towards extinction with each passing year.
The origins of Aer are just as mysterious as the remote and rugged terrain it calls home. Linguists have classified it as part of the broader Indo-European languages which means that Aer can provide insight into the ancient migrations that occurred in this region which have shaped its culture and tradition so profoundly. Additionally, Aer also gives us insights into the unique way of life that the Aer speaking community had. The Aer people were nomadic and were traditionally farmers and shepherds. As a result of this, they developed a rich verbal tradition which reflected a deep connection with nature. Their folktales weaved together natural and supernatural elements to form a set of beliefs that were uniquely their own. At the same time, their nomadic way of life had impact on the Aer language and its preservation. Interaction with various groups due to their nomadic lifestyle meant they integrated many elements of other languages into their own, making Aer a treasure trove of languages.
Yet, even after all its uniqueness, Aer faces an uncertain future due to the forces of modernization. The British colonial rule which had set up English as a dominant language as well as Pakistan selecting Urdu as its national language after its independence were important junctions when Aer started to dwindle away. Now, the younger Aer speaking generation is turning away to Urdu and English as these are tied with more economic opportunities and promise these communities a clearer path to success.
However, in recent years, there has been a growing importance attached to preserving linguistic diversity which is why all is not lost. Not only are there efforts underway to document Aer through dictionaries, but also more and more Aer community members are actively passing down their linguistic heritage to next generations recognizing the value of Aer. In the end, Aer shouldn’t be seen merely as a linguistic curiosity, but a reminder that the vibrant diversity in our world is what makes it so fascinating, less uniform, and more unique. In saving Aer, we’re not just preserving words – we’re preserving distinct ways to understand our world.