Language Endangerment and Language Revitalization: An Introduction

✍ Scribed by Tasaku Tsunoda

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 336
• Edition: Reprint 2012
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

In almost every part of the world, minority languages are threatened with extinction. At the same time, dedicated efforts are being made to document endangered languages, to maintain them, and even to revive once-extinct languages.

The present volume examines a wide range of issues that concern language endangerment and language revitalization. Among other things, it is shown that languages may be endangered to different degrees, endangerment situations in selected areas of the world are surveyed and definitions of language death and types of language death presented. The book also examines causes of language endangerment, speech behaviour in a language endangerment situation, structural changes in endangered languages, as well as types of speakers encountered in a language endangerment situation. In addition, methods of documentation and of training for linguists are proposed which will enable scholars to play an active role in the documentation of endangered languages and in language revitalization.

The book presents a comprehensive overview of the field. It is clearly written and contains ample references to the relevant literature, thus providing useful guidance for further research. The author often draws on his own experience of documenting endangered languages and of language revival activities in Australia.

The volume is of interest to a wide readership, including linguists, anthropologists, sociologists, and educators.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
List of tables and figures
List of abbreviations
List of photos and map
1. Introduction
1.1. Introductory notes
1.2. Origin and development of language
1.3. Language loss: a brief history
1.4. Dialects, migrant languages, and enclave languages
1.5. Notes on terminology
1.6. Summary of Chapter 1
2. Degree of language endangerment
2.1. Introductory notes
2.2. Previous classifications
2.3. Terms employed
2.4. Summary of Chapter 2
3. Current state of language endangerment
3.1. Introductory notes
3.2. Current state worldwide
3.3. Ainu of Japan
3.4. Austronesian languages
3.5. Languages of Australia
3.6. Languages of South America
3.7. Languages of Central America
3.8. Languages of North America
3.9. Languages of the former USSR
3.10. Languages of Northern Europe
3.11. Celtic languages
3.12. Languages of Africa
3.13. Languages of India and neighbouring regions
3.14. Languages of China and neighbouring regions
3.15. Summary of Chapter 3
4. Approaches to language endangerment
4.1. Introductory notes
4.2. Language documentation approach
4.3. Language endangerment phenomenon approach
4.4. Models of language endangerment
4.5. Summary of Chapter 4
5. Definitions and types of language death
5.1. Introductory notes
5.2. Definitions of language death
5.3. Types of language death
5.4. Summary of Chapter 5
6. External setting of language endangerment
6.1. Introductory notes
6.2. Ecology of language
6.3. Causes of language endangerment
6.4. Summary of Chapter 6
7. Speech behaviour: sociolinguistic aspects of language endangerment
7.1. Introductory notes
7.2. Functional domains
7.3. Language shift
7.4. Summary of Chapter 7
8. Structural changes in language endangerment
8.1. Introductory notes
8.2. Dyirbal of Australia
8.3. Loss of the avoidance style in Warrungu (Australia)
8.4. Discussion
8.5. Summary of Chapter 8
9. Typology of speakers
9.1. Introductory notes
9.2. Preliminaries
9.3. Previous classifications
9.4. Proposed classifications
9.5. Semi-speakers
9.6. Proficiency: discussion
9.7. Summary of Chapter 9
10. Value of linguistic heritage
10.1. Introductory notes
10.2. Concern for language endangerment
10.3. The other side of the concern for language endangerment
10.4. Language, culture, and identity
10.5. Summary of Chapter 10
11. Language revitalization: maintenance and revival
11.1. Introductory notes
11.2. Can languages be revitalized?
11.3. Strategies for language revitalization
11.4. Problems encountered in language revitalization activities
11.5. Types of language revitalization programs
11.6. Summary of Chapter 11
12. Role and ethics of researchers
12.1. Introductory notes
12.2. Academic exploitation: communities’ reactions and researchers’ responses
12.3. Role of linguists
12.4. Summary of Chapter 12
13. Method of documentation and training of fieldworkers
13.1. Introductory notes
13.2. Method of documentation
13.3. Training of fieldworkers
13.4. Summary of Chapter 13
14. Concluding remarks
References
Index of languages
Index of persons and authors
Index of subjects