Question

Read the following passage about the Canary Islands:

For centuries, the deep ravines of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, echoed not with words, but with whistles. The Silbo Gomero, a whistled language developed by the island's indigenous inhabitants and later adapted to Spanish, allowed messages to travel up to five kilometers across challenging mountainous terrain. However, by the late twentieth century, modern telecommunications and rural depopulation threatened to silence this unique heritage.

In response, local authorities took a bold step in 1999, making the study of Silbo Gomero compulsory in primary and secondary schools. Today, a new generation of islanders can communicate fluently through whistles, ensuring the survival of their ancestors' tongue. Critics initially dismissed the curriculum as a nostalgic indulgence, arguing that scarce educational resources would be better spent on digital literacy or global languages. Yet, this view overlooks the profound cognitive and social benefits of bilingualism, even when one language consists entirely of pitches and frequencies.

By integrating Silbo Gomero into the classroom, the island has not only preserved a UNESCO-recognized cultural treasure but has also fostered a unique sense of community identity among its youth. Far from being a relic of the past, the whistled language has become a vibrant tool of modern expression, proving that progress does not require the erasure of tradition. The success of La Gomera offers a compelling model for other regions fighting to save endangered languages, demonstrating that policy and pride can successfully counter the homogenizing forces of globalization.

Based on the passage, which of the following best describes the author's primary purpose?