The End of a Language? Is There a Surinamer in the Room?

The phrase “Is there a Surinamer in the room?” has been heard more and more often lately, and with it comes the question of what is happening to the language spoken by many people from Suriname. The word “spang” is used to mean something like “tasty” or “delicious,” but its use is slowly fading away as more people forget its meaning. Even worse, the phrase “no spang” has taken on an entirely different meaning—it now means something like “no worries.” It seems that this once vibrant language is slowly being forgotten by those who spoke it for generations. Many of those who still remember it are elderly, and they worry that their language will soon be lost forever if no one takes up the mantle of preserving it. This fear has led some to take action in an attempt to keep their culture alive. For example, there are several organizations dedicated to teaching young people about their heritage and encouraging them to learn about their language and culture. Unfortunately, these efforts may not be enough to save this once-proud language from extinction. With each passing generation, fewer and fewer people know how to speak it or even understand its meaning. As time goes on, it becomes increasingly likely that this unique part of Surinamese culture will be lost forever unless drastic measures are taken soon. It's heartbreaking for many Surinamers to think that their beloved language could soon disappear forever if nothing is done quickly enough. It's also concerning for those who value cultural diversity around the world; without languages like this one, we would all become less connected as a global community. We can only hope that enough people will come together in order to preserve this important part of our shared history before it's too late.