明治時期以來的愛努語的衰退與復振

The Decline and Revitalization of Ainu Language Since the Meiji Period

2009年聯合國教科文組織，將愛努語列為「瀕危語言」，同時認定其程度為嚴重等級。愛努語的瀕危起於明治時代，明治政府為達建立近代國家的目標，將原先的「蝦夷島（えぞとう）」，即愛努民族所稱的「ainu mosir」併入國家版圖，改為「北海道」。這使愛努民族被迫在近代國家與國民的框架下生活，所使用的愛努語逐漸在教育體制與生活環境中被日本語取代，愛努語失去其使用空間與溝通機能。戰後由愛努耆老萱野茂等人意識到愛努語的衰退，由自民族之力進行推廣復振。同時在愛努民族的共同組織，透過民族運動，向北海道政府、中央政府提出正視愛努民族的原住民族地位與弱勢情況。從最初以改善愛努民族的生活環境與經濟困境為訴求，到1997年日本政府制定新法，以振興愛努文化與語言。終於，在政府開始面對愛努民族的問題，愛努語得到政府的力量進行復振。另一方面，日本各大學學院也逐漸導入愛努語的課程，讓愛努語進入教育體制。同時加上愛努語廣播節目、愛努語辯論大賽等各種愛努語學習管道與交流活動，讓愛努語的復振出現在產官學各種層面，使戰後的愛努語學習呈現多元化的新氣象。

In 2009, UNESCO listed Ainu language as an ''endangered language'' and determined that its degree is a serious grade. The endangerment of the Ainu language began in the Meiji period. The Meiji government's goal of establishing a modern nation. The original ''Ezo Island'', which is called ''ainu mosir'' by the Ainu people, was merged into the national map of the Meiji government and changed to ''Hokkaido''. This made the Ainu people forced to live in the framework of modern nation. The use of the Ainu language was gradually replaced by Japanese in the educational system and living environment. The Ainu language lost its use of space and communication. After the Second World War, Shigeru KAYANO, the elders of Ai- nu and other people realized the decline of the Ainu language. They are revitalized by the promotion of their own ethnic power. At the same time, the organization of the Ainu, through the national movement, proposed to the Hokkaido government and the central government to face up to the status and weakness of the aboriginal people of the Ainu. Initially seeking to improve the living environment and economic difficulties of the Ainu people. By 1997, the Japanese government enacted a new law to revitalize Ainu culture and language. Finally, the Japanese government began to face the problem of the Ainu, and the Ainu language was revived by the government. On the other hand, Japanese university colleges have gradually introduced courses in the Ainu language to allow the Ainu language to enter the education system. At the same time, various Ainu learning channels and communication activities such as the Ainu radio program and the Ainu Debate Contest have enabled the resurgence of the Ainu language to appear at various levels. Make the study of Ainu language diversified.