Readings on Language Preservation:
“Language as a public good and national identity: Scotland’s competing heritage languages” by Chris Chhim and Éric Bélanger. Link .
This article mainly discussed how even though Gaelic is sort of popular, it is considered endangered because of popularity and connectivity to another Scottish language: Scots. Scots is extremely similar to Gaelic, yet people make clear the distinction; Scots is considered a more common, much more spoken language of the people of Scotland and is putting pressure on Gaelic. The tricky part is this: Gaelic, because of its intrinsic connection to Scottish culture, has governmental support, whereas Scots does not. So, in a sense, a ‘retiring’ language is pushing out a seemingly reemerging language, making them both die.
“Integrating Language Documentation, Language Preservation, and Linguistic Research: Working with the Kokomas from the Amazon” by Rosa Vallejos: Vallejos Integrating Language Documentation Language Preservation and Linguistic Research- Working with the Kokamas from the Amazon
This article details the efforts of a group attempting to preserve Kokama. The purpose of this attempt seems to have been twofold: to preserve Kokama in indigenous communities and to gather information for linguists who would like to do further research on Kokama. Challenges included various, conflicting attitudes toward the language by potential speakers and a very informal, and sometimes ineffective, interview process. The author, Rosa Vallejos, does not expound upon the costs of her endeavor. Ultimately, Vallejos and her colleagues take a very holistic approach to the revitalization of Kokama and seem to genuinely care about the preservation of this language, both in native-speaking areas and in academia.
“Endangered Languages in Brazil” by Aryon Rodrigues Link
This article was published by Aryon D. Rodrigues at the University of Brasilia, and covers a general overview of many indigenous languages of the Amazon. Since a great variety is mentioned (including Parakanã), the primary argument promoting the preservation of these languages advocates on a widespread basis. He directly mentions that Portuguese and Indigenous languages could exist at the same time through welcoming education that embraces both aspects, preventing the psychological pain of erasing ones culture while allowing their inclusion in modernity. Aside from the well-being of Native populations, studying and maintaining these languages are crucial to Brazilian culture, such as new labels for organisms lying in the Amazon, or how tribal groups interacting with colonizers and settlers caused the creation of common words in Portuguese, such as capoeira, tapioca, or piranha.
“The Importance of Preserving and Promoting Languages” Link
This article is a great wrap up of a lot of the conversation we have had in class recently. What this article does do is give a more defined term for these dominant languages the privileged masses feel the world should use, and that is language “killers”. This article put in perspective how my language of English and the many opinions and beliefs that it should continue to grow as a dominant (soon universal) language threatens the existence of many other languages that do not have the backbone of written texts or historical evidence to support it once it becomes extinct. This article argues that it is important for students to learn that these languages, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, are all equally important to the more accepted dominant ones. Each and every language allows for an in-depth look at that people’s culture, view on the world, and specific perspective on their surroundings and the world we live in.
“Any Means Necessary? Tourism, Economics and the Preservation of Languages” Link
The article I read is called “By Any Means Necessary? Tourism, Economics, and the Preservation of Language” by Deidre D’Entremont. It offers a really interesting proposal for Native American language revitalization in the United States. It uses the model of the preservation and revitalization of French and Creole in Louisiana as a possible option for preservation and revitalization of Native American languages and cultures. The author acknowledges that the parallel isn’t exact and that viewing it as such would be problematic. However, the author lists the political and economic changes that would be involved, all of which would be to the benefit of indigenous people in the United States. Overall, I think it’s a pretty good starting point. Some keywords for this are: language policy; Native American languages; Language Preservation.
“This Lost Native Language of Massachusetts is Waking Up Again” Link
This article details the Wampanoag Language Reclamation Project in Mashpee, Massachusetts. The Wampanoag language, while having one of the largest collections of Native written documents, was considered an extinct language. Until recently, many tribe members had not been able to speak the language following English migration in the 17th century. However, thanks to efforts from tribe member activists (like Jessie “little doe” Baird, the founder) and linguists, the Wôpanâak Reclamation Project has made great strides in teaching and reviving the language. Most of the efforts of this project have focused on teaching native children the Wampanoag language through their project, Neekun. The project has seen great progress with over 75 children learning and approaching fluency of their language.
“Integrating Technology into Minority Language Preservation and Teaching Efforts” Link
The paper is about studying the implications of utilizing cost effective recording devices in order to preserve dying languages. The article discusses a case study of using tape recorders to record authentic Navajo conversations, recorded by an “in-group” member. The author clarifies that it is important that it is a member of the in-group, or minority group, who is the one to do the recording, not an outsider unfamiliar with the culture/language. In this way, speakers of dying languages can make efforts to preserve their own language in an authentic, respectful, low cost manner. The paper also bridely discusses the use of technology in the classroom setting as a way to aid/supplement the learning of dying languages.
Another summary: The article I chose was “Integrating Technology Into Minority Language Preservation and Teaching Efforts: An Inside Job” by Daniel J. Villa. The article covers how newer technology can and has been used to preserve minority language including sound recording, digital imaging, and accessible materials online for teaching purposes. The article covers various methodologies in research on the use of technology in educational settings, as well as results on which technologies best helped to teach/ preserve minority languages in classroom settings focusing on the role of the computer and CDs. I have attached a link to the article below.
“Preserving a Culture, One Speaker at a Time” Link
The article discusses the Euchee Language Project, started in 1996, and its fight to preserve the language. The ELP offers classes for both adults and children hoping to learn the language. However, the article also discusses how lack of funding and a dwindling number of fluent speakers hinders the efforts to teach students.
“Waloon: Door County’s Endangered Language” Link
Walloon is closely related to French almost to the point to where it is considered a dialect, but there is a strong national pride surrounding the language native to Belgium. However after WWII the Belgian population began to speak French more as it was seen as the language that could ensure a good career. This caused the language to slowly fade out of the region. In Door County, Wisconsin, there is a large Belgian-American population and recently there has been an effort by UW Eau-Claire to restore the language in the region.
“To Have Irish” Link
Irish is required to be learned in schools in Ireland, however only about two percent of people speak Irish every day and not even fifty percent feel they can speak Irish. The language becoming endangered can be attributed to British rule and the use of English as the official language. There have been attempts to revitalize the language. This includes, the Official Languages Act in 2003 which called for the use of Irish in state matters. Additionally, in 2010, the government created a 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language in order to use Irish more in state matters and make it more visible within the society. There has also been a societal push, including a radio show in Irish and a march to save the Irish Language.
“Belonging: Diasporic Pacific Islanders and the Meaning of Home” Diasporic Pacific Islanders
“Migration and Language in the USSR” Link
I have been looking at the article “Migration and Language in the USSR” by E. Glyn Lewis, which is a nice tipping off point about not only the Dolgan language, but a few other languages that have been in the process of disappearing after the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. It argues that due to the huge rate of both internal and external migration during the time of and shortly after the fall of the USSR, many local languages have greatly lost steam in large part due to the fact that its speakers are no longer near one another, and without the widespread access to the Internet that is now being utilized to try and save Dolgan, its speakers have unfortunately died off without passing it on to any new speakers. Here’s a link to the article below, and I can’t wait to dive further in! (Not going to lie–the most difficult part of all of this has been picking a language. There’s just so many interesting ones. I wanted to do one in South Africa that has literally one living speaker who refuses to speak at all, much less the language in question, but couldn’t find any good resources on it.)
“Literacy, Usage, and National Prestige” Link
Entitled Literacy, Usage, and National Prestige, The Changing Fortunes of Gaelic in Ireland, it discusses the reasons why Irish/Gaelic declined in the first place, and how it’s revival has somewhat failed. Starting with the British “Para-Colonization,” of Ireland in the 1600s, The author breaks down a series of misfortunes that leads to the largest culture loss in Irish history—the Great Famine in 1845, where much of Ireland’s people emigrated or starved. After this loss, Irish is consumed with a kind of cultural nationalism, which though starts positively in the late 1800’s, by the mid 1900’s is more artificial than anything. Today, Irish/Gaelic seems to be more a symbol for Irish culture, than an actual language that is spoken or used.
“The Conservation of Language” Link
Mohammad Shahidul Islam, the author of this article, makes the argument that language is an essential part of heritage and must be preserved in order to really understand anything about that the culture that language lives in. The author offers some interesting statistics: There are over 6,000 spoken languages in the world today, but most are being wiped out due to the juggernauts of English, French, Spanish, and German. According to him, 96% of the languages spoken are spoken by only 4% of the world. That is incredible if you think about it. While the author only mentions these 4 languages, languages such as Mandarin and Arabic are widespread as well. The author then moves on into the worlds efforts to preserve language, including February 21 being observed as International Mother Language Day and how the Internet has changed how language is preserved. The internet connects people easily to their cultures and can spread knowledge and awareness of languages on the precipice of becoming dead.
“Language Preservation and Development: The Role of the Library” Link
“Language is the key to the heart of the people. If we lose the key, we lose the people.” (Engholm)
“Language is not only a vehicle through which a peoples culture can be expressed but also a medium of one’s thought, imaginations, creativity, aspirations, desires, emotions, indeed the entire human need and capacity” (Banjo, 1971).