Do you still remember the plot of Romeo and Juliet? The two rivals, the Capulets and the Montagues, rarely have a proper conversation. They are always fighting each other. Romeo, who is a Montague, and Juliet, who is a Capulet, fall in love at first sight. Father Lawrence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo asks him, with hope that this secret marriage can help reduce the tensions between the Capulets and the Montagues. Although I know that the story is just a work of fiction, when I watched it, I really wished that there would be no rivalry between people. With peace, things will be a lot easier for everyone.
If everyone could live in peace and there were no such thing as rivals/long term enemies, society would definitely be a lot better off. That can be applied to many places in this world. For example, Manuel Segovia (78 years) and Isidro Velazquez (72 years) who both live in Ayapa, Tabasco – Mexico are the last two people on this Earth who are still able to speak Ayapaneco. Sadly, just like the Capulets and Montaques, they stopped talking to each other quite a long time ago.
Prof. James Fox from Stanford University, as kind as Father Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, understands that the extinction of a language can lead to an extinction of a whole culture. He reminded them about their responsibility to preserve their society by coming together. Manuel and Isidro needed to break their silence and save Ayapaneco from extinction.
The result of their burying past differences is the construction of Manuel and Isidro’s School of Ayapaneco built in Ayapa town. Manuel and Isidro agreed to save the language. If you feel like you want to help preserve the Mexican culture by saving the language, adopt a word here.
Disclosure
This post has been sponsored by Vodafone, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.