I sometimes wonder when and where the last Hmoob words will be spoken, knowing that with your last breathe will be the end of an era. As much as we may not want to believe it, languages are becoming extinct every year, and Hmoob is no exception. There is an article posted in this forum about the Chinese Miao loosing their native tongue in a number of villages in China already. Many linguists predict that at least half of the world's 6,000 or so languages will be dead or dying by the year 2050. I don’t think it would be that quick for us, but languages are becoming extinct. I’ve been to Laos, Thailand, and China and this notion is not too far fetched unless something is done to preserve our language or slow down this trend otherwise in time the future generation of Hmoob will no longer be able to speak our native tongue as they become assimilated with the dominant culture.

I am not against progressive changes. In fact many of our traditions need to be a thing of the past, but there are also cherished aspects that need to be preserved. To some Hmoob people, issues like this are not of significant importance. I can live with this knowledge, but to those of you that issues like this does matter then my hope is that you would drop me an email. Maybe one day we can bring our individual resources together to achieve a common goal whatever that maybe.

Many years ago when I was in college the internet was just starting in its infancy, I joined a Hmoob discussion forum online to discuss pertinent issues relating to Hmoob people. Like any other group of people, there were differences of opinion here and there, but that’s not a bad thing. Some people were genuinely interested in exchanging ideas to better ourselves while some people seemed to just want attention.

When I got out of college four years later, reality set in, meaning that the every day necessities of life took priority over idealistic goals. I got a job to pay off loans and bills, but now I am trying to search for other Hmoob people who are genuine and serious about helping our less fortunate cousins in Asia. With all of our resources combined together one day, maybe we can it happen.

Drop me an email if you are interested.

Thanks

It probably will never become extinct if there are a handful of people willing to work to preserve Hmong culture and find out about Hmong culture....by becoming cultured and teaching the young folks formally...spark an interest in our own culture for them so they learn about who they are and where they come from.

I know there are already people doing this but it is not widespread. They even have a Hmong program here at the University of Minnesota.

It's sorta up to us Hmongs in the west to make everything happen.