A Native American voice on language endangerment

Writer David Treuer elaborates on the meaning of the loss
of Native American languages from a Native American perspective.

Western Aramaic Languages in Syria

An article in the New York Times about Aramaic languages in Syria.  Communities seem to be undergoing language shift, but the article does mention a two-year-old school created to maintain the language.  The article plays up the religious aspect of the language (referring to it as "the language of Jesus" in the title), and discusses how its use has been linked to the changing religious demographics of the town in question, Malula.  Another interesting aspect is the relation of tourism and outside interest, created largely by "The Passion of the Christ" movie, to the actual contemporary spoken language.

--Sebastian Moya

Professor brings Aboriginal language to life

Lardil is not dead yet! There is one fluent speaker left who is in his 90s, but some linguists are trying to save the language from dying. In particular, Professor Norvin Richards is compiling Lardil stories in the form of text accompanied by CD recordings.

CBC Dispatch July 30, 2007: Mandarin Chinese in Indonesia

Mandarin courses in schools have become available in Indonesia (it used to be illegal, but is now encouraged). Scroll down and listen to the audio file for Angela Chang's report.

--Chiara Frigeni

CBC Dispatch July 2007: Saving languages by learning them

On the site, you can browse an access the audio file of Jen Ross's report.

--Chiara Frigeni

Global warming and Inuit people and language

Please listen to Part 2 of The current that was broadcast on June 25, 2007, section "Last word" -- how global warming is changing the Artic ecology and thus the Inuit material culture and language.

--Chiara Frigeni

On-line Video: Verloren Taal (Lost Language), 2001

25', in Dutch, on-line (Real Player).
Languages featured: Welsh (Celtic, Wales, UK), Frisian (Germanic, the Netherlands) a. o.
Interviews with David Crystal and Durk Gorter.
In Dutch and English. Even if you don't understand Dutch, it is worth watching for the clips featuring David Crystal and bits of his theater play on last speakers. Choose the broadband (breedband). Unfortunately, the quality is still bad.

--Chiara Frigeni

Canada Aboriginal Languages, Revitalization projects: "Finding our talk" Season Two

Click on an episode for a summary thereof.

--Chiara Frigeni

Canada Aboriginal Languages, Revitalization projects: "Finding our talk" Season One

Click on an episode for a summary thereof. I will ask University of Toronto libraries to purchase the entire series. I doubt we'll have it before the end of our course though...

--Chiara Frigeni

List of films and documentaries on endangered languages

A list of films and documentaries on endangered languages.

--Chiara Frigeni

Audio files of traditional native legends

Start accessing the Northwestern Ontario native culture through their legends. Audio files available in English and Oji-Cree. Pick one and listen to both language versions of it.

--Chiara Frigeni

China's Manchu speakers struggle to save language

Even though some 10 million Chinese citizens describe themselves as ethnic Manchus, only 18 people in an isolated village in northeastern China, all older than 80, still speak the language.

First Nation uses translation machine to save language

A translation device developed for the U.S. military is being used by aboriginal groups across North America to preserve their languages.

Video: aboriginal language teaching technique

Listening Lesson for ESL teachers in Canberra, Australia.

Quilt of Belonging

The Quilt of Belonging is a giant quilt (the most comprehensive textile project in Canada) that has 263 squares, each one representing the unique cultural background of the artist. Represented are 71 Aboriginal groups and 192 immigrant nationalities in Canada (you can also search and view parts of it here). Even the materials used for the squares differ, like sealskin or wings of butterflies. Very cool!

Nigeria: Stakeholders brainstorm on Language and Culture

This is a news article on a conference held in Lagos to discuss strategies on strengthening African language and culture.

Canadian Aboriginal Language & Culture

The website guides you through basic knowledge of Canadian aboriginal culture, with lessons in the Michif language of the Metis people. It also provides resources for teachers.

East Timor's official and work languages not the same

East Timor has a complicated language situation. The 2 official languages are Portuguese, which almost no one speaks, and Tetum, a native language with 16 dialects spoken by 80% that is greatly influenced by Portuguese (40% of the vocabulary is from Portuguese). Apparently Tetum doesn't have the vocabulary for sophisticated concepts (which is a sign that it may one day become endangered) and the day-to-day working languages are Indonesian and English. Even the government, which requires civil servants to know Portuguese, uses Indonesian day-to-day.

Pidgin Darija as part of Moroccan identity

Most people in Morocco speak the Arabic/Berber/French/Spanish pidgin Darija as their native tongue, which does not have a written language and is viewed in contempt by many. The official language is Standard Arabic and to be able to read everyone must learn this second language, with the unfortunate result that only 50% of the population is literate, so 50% are excluded from reading the news, etc. However, the diverse Darija is starting to be seen as reflecting the true identity of Moroccans, and some want to raise it to official language status.

Conditions for Language Revitalization: Comparison of Hebrew and Maori

It's a bit long, but still an interesting (perhaps even enlightening for some) read. Enjoy. :)

--Annat Koren

"In order to understand us you need to understand the world around us."

This is an interesting site that reminded me of Maya's presentation. It is an explanation of the Blackfoot way of life and has links like "How we lived with the land" and "Our world." It also includes information about their language and traditional stories.

Inter-marriage with non-natives and migration to big cities help increase language loss among natives

This article touches on how inter-marriage and migration away from native communities into bigger cities (among other things) are aiding in language shift.

Diwan schools (immersion in Breton)

It is amazing they got this far without French legislative support!

--Annat Koren

"If they can't speak their mother tongue, then they cannot communicate with their mother"

This article was in the Toronto Star. Though Mandarin is obviously not an endangered language, the fact that language encodes heritage and cultural identity is something we've seen throughout this course and was the main theme in my interview.

--Derek Denis

Language Revitalization Projects

The Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia has created projects to strengthen Aboriginal communities and revitalize their languages beginning with the youth.

University of Arizona: Revitalization project

Here is an article (2004) that features the work of University of Arizona researchers who are looking to save indigenous languages (that have no written form). Their procedure includes videotaping the native speakers.

Giving a voice to indigenous writers

Relating to our Literacy reading from this week, here is a short piece on 'Strategies for Developing Indigenous Writers' (from Language Documentation & Conservation). It looks at the issue of language of instruction, and goes into detail about developing trial orthographies (with some great pictures). It also gives ideas for creating workshops for indigenous writers.

24-hour TV Station devoted to aborigines in Taiwan

In hopes of promoting aboriginal language and culture, the Taiwanese government has invested in a 24-hour TV station. The station broadcasts shows ranging from cooking shows to aboriginal language lessons.

BBC: Centre opens to 'save' languages

This article discusses the Hans Rausing Endangered Languages project, aimed at recording endangered languages for preservation. It's currently targeting a few Mayan languages in Guatemala.

Native language preservation bill becomes law

This article is from December 2006, but it was still nice to read that the American government took a bold step in preserving Native languages (thanks to major efforts by lobbyists).

Learning Cherokee on the internet

A professor at Auburn University in Alabama created a self-instructional language learning resource for Cherokee. The site has received more than 20,000 hits or visits to date. “Some people have been using the site quite consistently for a long time,” she said. “I have found that people who have used it really like it.” Interestingly, the professor's main difficulty proved to be reconciling differences in the language amongst the various written sources in order to create her database of vocabulary.

The article is on page 4 of the newsletter.

Aboriginal Languages of Australia

Tons of links to resources for 80 Aboriginal languages of Australia, most of which are endangered. These are organized by type (like songs or dictionaries), by language and by location. Really useful!

Extensive links to Aboriginal resources

Many, many links to Aboriginal resources in Canada and around the world!

A blog about languages by Mark Liberman

Mark Liberman is a linguist and a computer scientist.

Some specific articles:

1. Japanese character attrition due to keyboards and cellphones
2. Mayan language revitalization
3. Judge orders a father to speak to his daughter in English or lose his visitation rights

Language Documentation & Conservation

This journal contains papers related to language conservation, language planning, and revitalization efforts.

One of the papers is Ethics and Revitalization of Dormant Languages: The Mutsun Language.

Blog about the Scots Gaelic language

This person is trying to learn the Scots Gaelic language, which is dying out, and writing about it as he goes.

Oneida Language Revitalization Program

A website devoted to keeping this language alive. It also links to other Oneida Nation websites (e.g., tourism, environment, elderly services).

Michif Language conference

This article recaps the events of the Michif Language conference (2006) in Thunder Bay.

Truth and reconciliation commission to hear ex-students of Aboriginal residential schools

The commission will start collecting testimonies this fall 2007. The work is financed for the next five years. It is the official way in which the Canadian government wants to make Canadian citizens aware of the devastating experience of generations of Aboriginal peoples.

--Chiara Frigeni