Endangered Languages and Linguistic Diversity

3 units

Although about 6000 languages are spoken in the world today, one estimate predicts that 90% of the world's languages will disappear in the next century. How could this happen, and what are people doing about i? This course will utilize theoretical readings and examples of particular African, American, Asian, and European languages to explore the theoretical issues of languages shift and ethnolinguistic revitalization movements. In the first half of the course, we will explore processes of language shift: how and why languages die, how discourses of language death and endangerment impact languages and speakers, and the structural effects of language obsolescence. In the second half of the course, we will explore the various reasons why groups wish to preserve languages, the potential benefits of language revitalization, and the factors in successful and unsuccessful language revitalization movements, including language policy, education, media, religion, literacy and standardization, economic development, and ethnic prejudice and discrimination.