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economic, and even among politicians there are almost none who openly say, ‘We are not Japanese, we are Ruuchuuan people; we are a Ruuchuuan nation.’ Without first asserting an ethnic identity, it is impossible to revive a language.”
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The following is Jon Mitchell’s article about Fija Byron, originally published on the Okinawa Times website. For easier reading, only the article text is reproduced below.
2026 Wales Peace and Goodwill Message emphasises importance of minority languages; linguist and→
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bear responsibility for the neglect of the six languages due to their tepid support for linguistic revitalization: “The reason is simple: assimilating as Japanese rather than identifying as Ruuchuuan is advantageous in almost every aspect of life. The greatest benefit is