The future of native languages (original) (raw)
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Language endangerment, a global phenomenon, is accelerating and 90 percent of the world's languages are about to disappear in 21 st century, leading to the loss of human intellectual and cultural diversity. When Europe colonized the New World and the South, an enormous body of cultural and intellectual wealth of indigenous people was lost completely and it was appreciable only through the language that disappeared with it (Hale, 1998). This research deals with the problem of language loss in the world and seeks answer to critical questions: What does language extinction mean for humankind? What is to be done to save languages from loss? Some scholars suggest that linguists should find solutions whereas others disagree that it is linguists' responsibility to maintain and preserve the currently disappearing languages. Moreover, the research indicates that not only language specialists are participating in this process but also general public, particularly members of the communities whose languages are declining, are contributing their efforts in saving languages from loss.
Language Death and Endangered Languages
Abstract: Language is essential in humans’ lives; it is what takes to differentiate between animals and humans, it is what we use to understand ourselves. Upon all its status in human life, people are still crying of language disappearance, because many died and some are endangered. There are some questions that supposed to be asked, but only few were raised. We tried to look at major areas such as: the importance of languages, the statistics of languages, what really caused the endangerment, and a way out (solution). Though, the issue is very vast, but we tried and narrowed ourselves down to the minimal level just not to confuse readers. Key words: Language, death, endangered, and revitalization
Endangered Languages and Causes of Languge Exinction
Language endangerment and language extinctions are two crucial terms which have invaded different perspectives including linguistics, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics. Recently, there has been an increasing interest on the part of scholars of various fields in this phenomenon partially due to its sensitivity to the human cultural diversity and knowledge and partially to the fact that it has been terribly accelerating over the last few years. It is highly predicted that 90 percent of the world's languages will have become extinct by the end of this century. An enormous body of intellectual and cultural wealth of minority languages of some communities was completely lost with the loss of these languages. Therefore, the current study takes its significance as it seeks to shed light on the different sub-topics that underlies this process. The study follows an argumentative descriptive method of investigation. It is initiated by answering the question of what language is through citing different common definitions of the term. The paper moves on to present an overview of the above mentioned two terms via citing the most relevant scholars' quotes and some of the most reliable statistical facts. The research shifts to introducing the most commonly proposed causes underlying language endangerment and potential language complete disappearance. Following this, it describes the levels of endangerment on a scale explaining the criteria upon which a language is classified as safe or unsafe from the danger of extinction. The study is concluded by introducing the most serious consequences resulting from language loss followed by a set of procedural steps to preserve a language from the danger of extinction.
Endangered Languages.:Endangered Languages
Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 1995
lems, which arise more from availability than from lack of oversight, Genre and the New Rhetoric is a significant contribution to our understanding of a multiplicity of issues related to genre, such as rhetoric, philosophy of language, speech act theory, literacy, and language education. Endangered Languages. Robert H. Robins and Eugenius M. Uhlenbeck, eds. Berg Oxford, 1991.273 pp.
On how and why languages become endangered: Reply to Mufwene
Language, 2017
Salikoko Mufwene raises significant questions about how and why languages become endangered (and die). The purpose of this reply is to provide additional perspective on what goes into answering these questions. Several of Mufwene's claims are responded to. Questions are raised concerning what the theorizing about language endangerment and loss (LEL) that Mufwene calls for would be like. Many causal factors associated with LEL are mentioned, advances in understanding are pointed out, and the roles of language documentation and language revitalization are clarified.*
There are about 6,700 languages spoken on Earth today. To consider the future survival of these languages I will take as my starting point a provocative quotation on the back cover of a recent book by Andrew Dalby: "a language dies every two weeks: what are we going to do about it?" Are languages indeed disappearing and, if so, how and why? Where do suggestions come from of language loss at the rate of one language per fortnight, and what are some possible responses to what looks like an impending crisis for the survival of the world's languages? Are all smaller languages doomed to extinction, or are there signs that loss of languages can be reversed?