Our View: Efforts to save CHamoru language important to Guam
Pacific Daily News
At one point not too long ago, the CHamoru language was in serious decline.
Robert A. Underwood, a longtime educator, former UOG president and former Guam delegate, has said the CHamoru language can be considered endangered because it isn t being transmitted intergenerationally in the home.
But there are strong efforts to reverse that course on Guam.
Many younger CHamorus are making concerted efforts to pass the language down to their children. Kenneth Kuper and Francine Naputi said they consider teaching Guam’s indigenous language is a gift they’re giving to their children and they hope other families will do the same.
The University of Guam will confer degrees to more than 230 graduates at its Fanuchånan 2020 commencement ceremony Dec. 27.
The ceremony will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, streamed at 3 p.m. Dec. 27 at the university s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/UniversityofGuam.
The virtual ceremony will include a keynote speech by Dr. Edison P. Manaloto, a two-time UOG alumnus and the 2006 UOG valedictorian who this year returned to Guam as a medical doctor at Guam Regional Medical City.
“Edison embodies the UOG motto of excelsior, or ‘ever upward,’” said UOG President Thomas W. Krise. “He has continually reached for the next level and the next means of making an impact on his home island of Guam.”