‘Tarn palkö enim ab uo tundö’ – Only a handful of people are still able to understand these Livonian words (Viitso: 1990). Reasons why languages such as Livonian are becoming extinct are manifold and the estimated 7000 languages which “are being spoken around the world” (Colls: 2009, p. 1) are expected to rapidly shrink in the upcoming decades. It is obvious that language extinction and language death have reached an exceptional level in recent years and that the forecast for a striking percentage of the world’s dying languages is very high (Hale et al.: 1992). An untold number of languages has already died and the “disappearance of languages continues” (Wurm: 1991, p. 1) constantly. One reason for this loss is the fact that “more and more people switch to one of the dominant languages, especially English, and” (Deterding: 2004, p. 27) in consequence miss out on transmitting their endangered indigenous language to their descendents (Crystal: 2000). The problem of language death has only been discovered in the late 1980's and it is assumed that within this century 50% of the currently spoken languages will become extinct and that another 40% will be endangered so that their extinction is no longer ne avoidable – but only if this trend continues (Krauss: 1992). Although, this estimation might sound very pessimistic it is obvious that a drastic reduction of language diversity is on its way. In these premises, thoughts about how to countervail the reduction of diversity have come up within the last couple of years (Hale et al.: 1992; Bobaljik et al.; 1996; Grenoble and Whaley: 1998) with one possibility being to respond to the dying of languages by extensively documenting endangered languages before they actually become extinct. Considering the extent and the speed in which languages die out the task to document is particularly imperative.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Theoretical Background: Language Endangerment and Language Death
- Potentially Endangered Languages
- Endangered Languages
- Seriously Endangered Languages
- Moribund Languages
- Extinct Languages and Dead Languages
- Discussion
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This work examines the significance of language endangerment, the consequences of language death, and existing countermeasures. It investigates the losses associated with language extinction, going beyond the mere loss of the language itself. The study utilizes a working definition of language based on the Oxford Paperback Dictionary & Thesaurus (2009).
- The multifaceted causes and consequences of language endangerment.
- The various classifications and definitions of endangered languages.
- The impact of language loss on communities and cultural identity.
- Methods and strategies for documenting and preserving endangered languages.
- The urgency of addressing the rapid decline in linguistic diversity.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the critical issue of language endangerment, highlighting the rapid decline of languages worldwide, particularly the impact of dominant languages like English. It emphasizes the urgency of documenting endangered languages before they become extinct and sets the stage for a deeper examination of the problem and potential solutions. The chapter establishes the working definition of language used throughout the work and briefly outlines the structure of the subsequent chapters.
Theoretical Background: Language Endangerment and Language Death: This chapter delves into the theoretical framework surrounding language endangerment and death. It explores various criteria used to classify endangered languages, including the number of speakers, age of speakers, language transmission to younger generations, and language function within the community. The chapter also discusses the varying approaches of different researchers in classifying endangered languages, highlighting the complexities and nuances involved in defining and categorizing these linguistic situations. It introduces the concept of a language's potential trajectory towards extinction.
Keywords
Language endangerment, language death, linguistic diversity, language extinction, endangered languages, moribund languages, extinct languages, language documentation, language preservation, cultural identity, language loss.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the focus of this language preview?
This preview provides a comprehensive overview of a work examining language endangerment, language death, and the methods used to counteract these phenomena. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the "Theoretical Background" chapter?
This chapter explores the theoretical framework surrounding language endangerment and death. It examines the criteria for classifying endangered languages (number of speakers, age of speakers, language transmission, language function), different researcher approaches to classification, and the potential trajectory of a language towards extinction.
What is the purpose of the "Introduction" chapter?
The introduction sets the stage by highlighting the rapid decline of languages globally, emphasizing the impact of dominant languages and the urgency of documenting endangered languages before they vanish. It establishes the working definition of "language" used throughout the work and outlines the structure of the following chapters.
What are the key themes explored in this work?
Key themes include the multifaceted causes and consequences of language endangerment; the various classifications and definitions of endangered languages; the impact of language loss on communities and cultural identity; methods and strategies for documenting and preserving endangered languages; and the urgency of addressing the rapid decline in linguistic diversity.
What is the working definition of language used in this work?
The preview states that the work utilizes a working definition of language based on the Oxford Paperback Dictionary & Thesaurus (2009), although the specific definition is not provided.
What types of endangered languages are discussed?
The preview mentions several classifications of endangered languages: potentially endangered, endangered, seriously endangered, moribund, extinct, and dead languages.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries highlight the critical nature of language endangerment, the complexities of classifying endangered languages, and the need for effective documentation and preservation strategies. They also underscore the far-reaching consequences of language loss, extending beyond the mere loss of the language itself.
What are some of the keywords associated with this work?
Keywords include: Language endangerment, language death, linguistic diversity, language extinction, endangered languages, moribund languages, extinct languages, language documentation, language preservation, cultural identity, and language loss.
What is the overall objective of this work?
The work aims to examine the significance of language endangerment, the consequences of language death, and existing countermeasures. It investigates the losses associated with language extinction, going beyond the mere loss of the language itself.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Corinna Colette Vellnagel (Author), 2011, Language Endangerment is an Important Issue, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/174794
