Saturday, June 25, 2016

The Implications of Languages Lost


Map of Language Loss by Threat Level (Source: Living Tongues)
 
Today’s blog post will discuss the topic of endangered languages and language loss.  While linguists do not agree on the exact number it is believed that around 6000-7000 languages are spoken today, but it is estimated that half of these will be lost, or extinct, by the end of this century.  This language loss may not seem like a big deal, but as language is a key element of culture with language loss is also the loss of various cultures and peoples associated with those cultures.  The concept of language loss, the causes and implications of language loss, as well as the means of preserving languages will be discussed in this post.

Languages are considered endangered based on several criteria, which include but are not limited to specific languages no longer being taught to new generations, lack of use in everyday activities, fewer and fewer native speakers, and more.  Several languages have become extinct over the years, while others have simply evolved, such as Latin, Greek, or Old English.  It is important to recognize the distinction between language extinction and language evolution.  In the former (extinction), the language is no longer spoken in any sense or variation, whereas in the latter (evolution) the language continues to be spoken in new incarnation, such as modern Greek descending from ancient Greek.  The languages are not lost as their bases can still be identified in the modern, spoken languages.

Several factors lead to language endangerment.  Language loss can be voluntary or involuntary, but both of these are directly related to perceptions of identity.  Typically, language loss is associated with a diminished opinion of the language and people who speak it.  This can be culturally or politically motivated, such as through peer pressure, passing over individuals for employment, or laws against speaking specific languages.  Various legislated situations leading to language loss have occurred across the world, including here in the United States and Canada with the implementation of the mandatory boarding schools of Native Americans.

The loss of language is also associated with the loss of culture.  Language is a key element of culture, and language helps transmit cultural traditions, values, beliefs, norms, etc.  Language can help shape an individual’s identity, so the loss of language can and often does lead to a loss of cultural identity.  So much so that scholars have noted that individuals who lose their language are more often to participate in deviant behaviors (e.g. drug and alcohol abuse or criminal activities) as they seek out and try to reconcile their lost identity with the negative perceptions associated with that identity.  The opposite is also true as you can see here in this video about how speaking one's native language can have positive effects. 

Culture is not the only loss associated with language endangerment and extinction.  Languages and cultures provide us insights into human history, intellectual knowledge, and cultural diversity.  The loss of both creates a vacuum in understanding the past and the present.

Because scholars have recognized the detrimental effects of language loss proactive steps to prevent language extinction have been implemented.  Scholars have begun recording and documenting endangered languages as a means of preserving them and to use as tools for educating new generations of speakers, promoting language literacy and maintenance programs to encourage continued use of the language, and emphasizing the benefits of language diversity throughout the world.  These initiatives, however, cannot be successful without support from local communities, which include both native speaking and nonspeaking communities.  Native speakers must and most often do support these initiatives by actively engaging and participating in them, but nonspeakers of the specific endangered languages must also be supportive by encouraging and allowing the language to be spoken without reprisal or punishment.  This effort is often harder to obtain, but it is an integral part of preserving languages.

Language diversity is paramount as it is so closely related to cultural diversity.  Language and culture loss have greater negative impacts not just on the specific cultures affected but all cultures around the world.  Cultural diversity helps to understanding the world, as well as how best to problem solve given the various perspectives inherent in different cultural viewpoints, values, beliefs, etc.  So consider how you can assist in preserving endangered languages or cultural diversity in your community, which can be as simple as encouraging someone to speak their language without fear.



Bibliography


Endangered Language Institute.  2012.  “Why?”  http://elalliance.org/why/



Foundation of Endangered Languages.  2016.  http://www.ogmios.org/index.php



Kindell, G.  2015.  “Endangered Language Groups: What’s the Fuss?”  SIL, Inc.  http://www-01.sil.org/sociolx/ndg-lg-grps.html

Living Tongues: Institute for Endangered Languages.  http://livingtongues.org


Malone, E.  No Date.  “A Special Report: Endangered Languages.”  National Science Foundation.  https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/linguistics/endangered.jsp

SIL, Inc.  2015.  “Endangered Languages.”  http://www-01.sil.org/sociolx/ndg-lg-home.html


United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.  2016.  “Endangered Languages.”  http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/endangered-languages/

Woodbury, A.C. 2012.  “What Is An Endangered Language?”  Linguistic Society of America.  http://www.linguisticsociety.org/content/what-endangered-language
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