Approaches to Language Endangerement

Approaches to Language Endangerment

Over the years, a multitude of approaches arose. Which one is the most suitable depends on the individual language and community. Regardless of what approach is chose, it is important to respect the community's culture and opinions to ensure their well-being and the success of the approach to language endangerment.

Language revitalization

Trying to save a language from extinction or revitalizing an already disappeared language.

There are several ways of approaching this, such as community-based programs, bilingual programs, and total immersion programs.

There are many examples of revitalization projects that are ongoing, with varying degrees of success.

Language standardization

What can be done according to UNESCO

1. Basic linguistic and pedagogical training

2. Sustainable development in literacy and local documentation skills

3. Supporting and developing national language policy

4. Supporting and developing educational policy

5. Improving living conditions and respect for the human rights of speaker communities

Academic

The academic approach to language endangerment is often spear headed by linguists, with varying goals in mind. There are several approaches linguists can work on from an academic point of view.

Often the first steps in understanding the vitality of a language requires both assessing the situation and understanding the causes behind it; the reasons for a language to become endangered can be very complex and require thorough knowledge of the context. Understanding the causes behind the decline of a language can help in its revitalization.

Another, more traditional way linguists approach language endangerment is by language documentation and description. "Language documentation, also known as documentary linguistics, is the subfield of linguistics that deals with creating multipurpose records of languages through audio and video recording of speakers and signers and with annotation, translation, preservation, and distribution of the resulting materials."

In the end perhaps the most important way to help is by offering linguistic expertise in discussing with politicians and especially communicating with the communities themselves.

Issues related to academic involvement in language revitalization

While linguists and other academics can be valuable aides in language revitalization programs, there are also instances where academic and community institutions come into opposition due to conflicting alignments, loyalties, priorities, methods, and goals.

Language endangerment phenomenon

The language endangerment phenomenon approach "is concerned with the phenomenon of language endangerment itself, and salvage is not the most important aim of the research.”