Endangered Languages

Sicoli-2011-Agency & Ideology in Language Shift and Language Maintenance

by Mark Sicoli

Linguistic Diversity in the Knowledge Commons

by Giridhar Rao

This article appears in the newsletter "Common Voices" (no. 7). The complete issue is at http://iasc2011.fes.org.in/common-voices-7.pdf

Indigenous languages encode a considerable amount of traditional environmental knowledge -- knowledge about... more Indigenous languages encode a considerable amount of traditional environmental knowledge -- knowledge about biodiversity management. Thus, from even a purely instrumental point of view (setting aside ethical and rights-based considerations), indigenous languages need to flourish. How serious is the situation of indigenous languages? What are some of the major reasons why languages become endangered? And what can be done about it? These are some of the questions this essay will address, largely from the Indian experience.

What are we trying to preserve? Diversity, change, and ideology at the edge of the Cameroonian Grassfields

by Pierpaolo Di Carlo

Manuscript, co-authored with Jeff Good

Discussions of endangered languages often frame language death as being associated with the loss of knowledge as... more Discussions of endangered languages often frame language death as being associated with the loss of knowledge as embedded in particular languages. At the same time, it is also clear that the losses associated with language endangerment need not be restricted to individual language systems but can also involve the disappearance of distinctive language ecologies. This paper explores the language dynamics of the Lower Fungom region of Northwest Cameroon, which offers an extreme case of linguistic diversity within the already exceptionally diverse Cameroonian Grassfields, focusing on what we can learn by looking at the languages from an areal and ethnographically-informed perspective. In particular, key aspects of the local language ideologies will be explored in some detail, and it will be argued that in this area languages are used to symbolize relatively ephemeral political formations and, hence, should not be taken as reflections of deeply-rooted historical identities. This conclusion has significance both regarding how research projects in the area should be structured as well as for what it might mean to “preserve” the languages of a region which historically appears to have been characterized by frequent language loss and emergence conditioned by changes in political structures.

The Domari language of Aleppo (Syria)

by Bruno Herin

Linguistic Discovery 10.2 (Forthcoming).

The goal of this paper is to shed light on an under-described variety of Domari, a very scarcely documented Indo-Aryan... more The goal of this paper is to shed light on an under-described variety of Domari, a very scarcely documented Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Dōm, who are often referred to as “the Middle-Eastern Gypsies”. Described as an archaic Indo-Aryan language, Domari is known to the scholarly community from a limited number of word lists dating back to the 19th century and two partial descriptions based on the almost extinct dialect of Jerusalem. Apart from these sources, no reliable data are available about other varieties. The data presented in this paper come from an original field-work carried out in 2009 and 2010 amongst the Dōm community in the city of Aleppo in Northern Syria and are an important contribution to our knowledge of one of the very few old diasporic Indic languages spoken outside the Indian subcontinent.

The dynamics of linguistic diversity: Egalitarian multilingualism and power imbalance among northern Vanuatu languages

by Alex François

François, Alexandre. 2012. The dynamics of linguistic diversity: Egalitarian multilingualism and power imbalance among northern Vanuatu languages. International Journal of the Sociology of Language. 214, 85–110.

The Torres and Banks Islands, two small archipelagos of northern Vanuatu, are home to 9400 inhabitants and to 17... more The Torres and Banks Islands, two small archipelagos of northern Vanuatu, are home to 9400 inhabitants and to 17 distinct languages. With an average of 550 speakers per language, this region constitutes an extreme case of the linguistic fragmentation which is typically observed throughout Melanesia. This study presents the linguistic diversity of that area, examines its social underpinnings and outlines its historical dynamics.

These islands form an integrated network where a variety of social forces interact, sometimes in conflicting ways. A long lasting bias toward cultural differentiation of local communities has led historically to the linguistic mosaic observable today. This traditional fostering of diversity was correlated with a principle of egalitarian multilingualism. But while these ancient social attitudes have survived to this day, the linguistic diversity of northern Vanuatu has already begun to erode, due to various recent social changes. These changes have reshaped the language ecology of the region and already resulted in the partial loss of earlier linguistic diversity. While northern Vanuatu is still linguistically diverse today, the increased imbalance of power among languages potentially makes the weaker varieties vulnerable in the decades to come.

Blommaert (2006)- Ethnopoetics as functional reconstruction

by Jan Blommaert

Revitalization of Regional Languages in France Through Immersion

by James Costa

Costa, J., & Lyster, R. (2011). Revitalization of Regional Languages in France Through Immersion. Canadian Issues / Thèmes canadiens, Fall/Autom, 55-58.

To pay tribute to the contributions made by Wallace Lambert in the field of immersion education at an... more
To pay tribute to the contributions made by Wallace Lambert in the field of immersion education at an international level, this article highlights initiatives undertaken to revitalize regional languages through immersion education in France. Based on the immersion model, school-based programs have been implemented in France to teach regional languages such as Occitan, Basque, and Catalan in the south, Corsican on the island of Corsica, Breton in the northwest, and German in the eastern regions of Alsace and Moselle.
This article points out many differences across these regional contexts, but concludes by emphasizing common issues that need to be addressed across the different regions with respect to pedagogical practices and professional development.

Von Humboldt’s parrot and the countdown of last speakers in the Colorado Delta.

by Shaylih Ryan Muehlmann

Language & Communication, 2011

“Spread Your Ass Cheeks”: And Other Things that Should not be Said in Indigenous Languages.

by Shaylih Ryan Muehlmann

From:  American Ethnologist, 2008.

counting the losses: numbers as the discourse of endangered language 2010 pdf

by Jan Blommaert

Quantitative investigation of intonation in an endangered language.

by Ruth Singer

Marra Alphabetical Dictionary

by Ruth Singer

Du local au global : essai de clarification idéologique préalable. Discours concurrents et revitalisation linguistique en Provence.

by James Costa

Costa, J. (2011). Du local au global : essai de clarification idéologique préalable. Discours concurrents et revitalisation linguistique en Provence. In F. Manzano (Ed.), Unité et diversité de la linguistique (pp. 233-255). Lyon: Publications du Centre d'€™Etudes Linguistiques / Editions de l'université Jean Moulin, Lyon 3.

Lusoga Language Education and Development Project

by Cornelius Gulere

co-authored with Umesh Chand

The LLEAD Project 2002 was written as a qualifying project for the Master in management of development. This edited... more The LLEAD Project 2002 was written as a qualifying project for the Master in management of development. This edited version has been the subject of implementation leading to the production of numerous instructional materials in Lusoga. Although it has not been presented to the proposed funders, it is now time for a next step to be made to realise the many goals that have not been attained.

De l'€™un et du divers. La région Rhône-Alpes et la mise en récit de ses langues.

by James Costa

Costa, J. & Bert, M., 2011. De l'€™un et du divers. La région Rhône-Alpes et la mise en récit de ses langues. Mots. Les langages du politique, 97, pp.45-57.

Review: Pańkin V. M. (ed.:) Kontaktologičeskij ènciklopedičeskij slovar'-spravočnik

by Marek Stachowski

Заимствованные слова в долганском языке:(Обзор проблем)

by Marek Stachowski

K voprosu o vremeni vozniknovenija dolganskogo jazyka

by Marek Stachowski

“Am measg nan daoine ga bruidhinn ’s ga labhairt”: An exploration in seanchas-based discourse

by Tiber Falzett

'Proceedings of Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig 5'. Sydney, Nova Scotia: Cape Breton University Press, 2010.

Flyer (KSU)

by Elizabeth Spreng