Curated theme: Language, well-being, and the environment - sustainability from indigenous linguists' perspective

This page attempts to show some examples of indigenous researchers' work in linguistics on the relation between language, well-being, and the environment. The aim is to highlight how these studies can be applied in creating and working towards a more sustainable linguistics.

What is (sustainable) linguistics?

Interdisciplinarity and types of linguistics

Sustainable linguistics (definition)

Sustainability in linguistics

Indigenous linguist(ic)s

Problems associated with language endangerment

Classifications of Language Endangerment

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goal 3 - Good health and well-being
Sustainable Development Goal 10 - Reduced inequalities

• Possibility to participate in one's own language, dialect, variety or idiolect without pressure to change

Sustainable Development Goal 13 - Climate action

Sustainable Development Goal 15 - Life on land

• Connection between biological and language diversity

Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality education

The hierarchy of authentic sustainability "The worldview of authentic sustainability is also an interconnected, ecological view of the world. Since society is an integral part of nature, every human activity within society is also an act of nature, and thus has a direct positive or negative impact on nature. Since the economy is an integral part of society and of nature, every economic act has a direct positive or negative impact on society and nature."

Ecology

Ecology, term originally used in biology, is the relation between an "organism" and its environment. In the context of linguistics, ecology means the relation between language and where it appears: for example society or the human mind. Ecological sustainability manifests that everything is interconnected: the effect one thing has to another is in the core of sustainability.

Understanding of ecology in other fields

Cognitive ecology

Theory of the Organism-Environment System

• organism and its environment form a system. The organism would not exist without the environment, and without the organism the environment would not be the same.

The natural ecology of language

Of hierarchy and definitions

As aspects of human life, language and human well-being are both part of society. Looking at the image, environment in its narrow definition ("nature") contains all of society. Environment, if used in the ecological context, may also mean a broader living place where society is an environment for language. A broader well-being would then include the well-being of all levels; nature, society, and economy.

Relations between language, well-being, and the environment

• well-being of language, humans, and environment
• relations between each

Suggestions for a more sustainable linguistics

Language Revitalization