The Green Book of Language Revitalization in Practice
Toward a Sustainable World
Published on 18. June 2001
Book
Hardback
450 pages
978-0-12-349353-8 (ISBN)
Description
With world-wide environmental destruction and globalization of economy, a few languages, especially English, are spreading rapidly in use, while thousands of other languages are disappearing, taking with them important cultural, philosophical and environmental knowledge systems and oral literatures. We all stand to suffer from such a loss, none more so than the communities whose very identity is being threatened by the impending death of their languages. In response to this crisis, indigenous communities around the world have begun to develop a myriad of projects to keep their languages alive. This volume is a set of detailed accounts about the kind of work that is going on now as people struggle for their linguistic survival. It also serves as a manual of effective practices in language revitalization. It includes: sections on language policy, language planning, revitalization of indigenous languages of national prominence vs. revitalization in small speech communities, second language teaching with emphasis on immersion and communicative competence, minority language literacy, the use of media and technology in language revitalization, training, and the revitalization of languages with nonnative speakers; 23 case studies of language revitalization in practice, from Native American languages, Australian languages, Maori, Hawaiian, Welsh, Irish, and others, written primarily by authors directly involved in the programs; 10 chapters by Hale and Hinton that are detailed overviews of the various kinds of programs and methods that are in practice; and introductions and maps for each of the languages that are represented in the volume, to familiarize the reader with their history, linguistic structure and sociolinguistic features.
There is strong representation in authorship and viewpoint of the people of the communities whose languages are threatened, giving the readers an inside understanding of the issues involved and the community-internal attitudes toward language loss and revitalization.
There is strong representation in authorship and viewpoint of the people of the communities whose languages are threatened, giving the readers an inside understanding of the issues involved and the community-internal attitudes toward language loss and revitalization.
Reviews / Votes
"This book focuses on most of the issues which are of serious academic interest in the practice of language revitalisation. It differs from some other books in this area, which focus more on the causes of language endangerment and marginalization. Modern mono-culture's threats to diversity (whether human or biological) form a topic of some interest in the media at the moment. Therefore, this book will appeal not only to language educators and linguists, but also to environmentalists, anthropologists and sociologists." Nicholas Ostler, President, Foundation for Endangered Languages, Bath UK "This is a useful, and at times refreshing, collection. Among the high points are Hales's astute commentaries on immersion programs and the use of mass media to preserve (rather than overwhelm) local languages; Clay Slate's exploration of the tensions between indigenous and non-indigenous audiences in creating an intellectual forum for Navajo linguistic scholarship at the highest level; and the back-to-back chapters by Sam Warner and Bill Wilson on Hawaiian revitalization, an object-lesson in how feuding over "control" can subvert even the most successful of language programs. The concluding section on 'sleeping language' (languages with no surviving first-language speakers) is a timely exploration of the links between archival research-clearly the future of our field-and revitalization." The Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas Newsletter "...On the whole, this is a wonderful book, a welcome addition to the growing literature on endangered languages, and a repository of excellent language-renewal ideas. Attractively printed in large format, with an appropriately bright green cover, the volume deserves a place on the shelf of anyone interested in language revitalization or minority language teaching, whether linguist, language teacher, or community activist." THE MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNALMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Publishing group
Brill
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 216 mm
Weight
1390 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-12-349353-8 (9780123493538)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Leanne Hinton is a professor of linguistics at the University of California, the director of the Survey of California and Other Indian Languages, and a consulting member of the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival. Kenneth Hale has taught linguistics in the Anthropology Departments at the University of Illinois and Arizona, and since 1967, he has been teaching and doing research in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Content
Part I: Introduction L. Hinton, Language Revitalization: An Overview. A. Ash, J. Little Doe Fermino, and K. Hale, Diversity in Local Language Maintenance and Restoration: A Reason For Optimism. Part II: Language Policy L. Hinton, Federal Language Policy and Indigenous Languages in the United States. R.D. Arnold, "...To Help Assure the Survival and Continuing Vitality of Native American Languages." Part III: Language Planning L. Hinton, Language Planning. L. Hinton, Introduction to the Pueblo Languages. C.P. Sims, Native Language Planning: A Pilot Process in the Acoma Pueblo Community. R. Pecos and R. Blum-Martinez, The Key to Cultural Survival: Language Planning and Revitalization in the Pueblo de Cochiti. K. Hale, The Navajo Language: I. P.R. Platero, Navajo Head Start Language Study. Part IV: Maintenance And Revitalization of National Indigenous Languages L. Hinton, Introduction to Revitalization Of National Indigenous Languages. L. Hinton, Introduction to the Welsh Language. G. Morgan, Welsh: A European Case of Language Maintenance. K. Hale, Introduction to the Maori Language. J. King, Te Kohanga Reo: Maori Language Revitalization. L. Hinton, Introduction to the Hawaiian Language. S.L. No'eau Warner, The Movement to Revitalize Hawaiian Language and Culture. W.H. Wilson and K. Kamana, "Mai Loko Mai O Ka 'I'ini: Proceeding From A Dream" - The 'Aha Punana Leo Connection In Hawaiian Language Revitalization. Part V: Immersion L. Hinton, Teaching Methods. L. Hinton, The Karuk Language. T. Supahan and S.E. Supahan, Teaching Well, Learning Quickly: Communication-Based Language Instruction. K. Hale, The Navajo Language: II. M. Arviso and W. Holm, Tsehootsooidi Olta'gi Dine Bizaad Bihoo'aah: A Navajo Immersion Program at Fort Defiance, Arizona. L. Hinton, The Master-Apprentice Language Learning Program. K. Hale, Linguistic Aspects of Language Teaching and Learning in Immersion Contexts. Part VI: Literacy L. Hinton, New Writing Systems. L. Hinton and K. Hale, An Introduction to Paiute. P. Bunte and R. Franklin, Language Revitalization in the San Juan Paiute Community and the Role of a Paiute Constitution. Part VII: Media and Technology L. Hinton, Audio-Video Documentation. K. Hale, Australian Languages. K. Hale, Strict Locality in Local Language Media: An Australian Example. K. Hale, The Arapaho Language. S. Greymorning, Reflections on the Arapaho Language Project, or When Bambi Spoke Arapaho and Other Tales of Arapaho Language Revitalization Efforts. K. Hale, Irish. C. Cotter, Continuity and Vitality: Expanding Domains through Irish-Language Radio. K. Hale, The Mono Language. P.V. Kroskrity and J.F. Reynolds, On Using Multimedia in Language Renewal: Observations from Making the CD-ROM Taitaduhaan. L. Buszard-Welcher, Can the Web Help Save My Language? Part VIII: Training L. Hinton, Training People to Teach Their Language. K. Hale, Inuttut and Innu-aimun. A. Johns and I. Mazurkewich, The Role of the University in the Training of Native Language Teachers: Labrador. L. Hinton, Languages of Arizona, Southern California, and Oklahoma. T.L. McCarty, L.J. Watahomigie, A.Y. Yamamoto, and O. Zepeda, Indigenous Educators as Change Agents: Case Studies of Two Language Institutes. K. Hale, The Navajo Language: III. C. Slate, Promoting Advanced Navajo Language Scholarship. Part IX: Sleeping Languages L. Hinton, Sleeping Languages: Can They Be Awakened? L. Hinton, The Use of Linguistic Archives in Language Revitalization: The Native California Language Restoration Workshop. L. Hinton, The Ohlone Languages. L. Yamane, New Life for a Lost Language. About the Editors. About the Authors. Index.