Preserving Language Diversity and Cultural Heritage

1. Chapter 5 Key Issue 4 Lucas, Chadai, Gisa, Vanessa Elizabeth, Deja, Natalie, Sydney

2. Intro- preserving language diversity

3. Preserving • Distribution of language is measured of the fate of an ethnic group • Migration • Although Some languages are preserved due to isolation, it is a "little used language” due to the isolation • -Example: Icelandic • Language displays the two competing geographic trends globalization and local diversity

4. Preserving language diversity • Thousands of languages are extinct languages • Languages go extinct because only few older speakers are still living, and they are not teaching the language to their children • When Spanish missionaries went to Peru they discovered more than 500 languages • only 92 are still spoken

5. Extinction • Gothic was once widely spoken in E & N Europe • Language & E Germanic branch of the Germanic branch of Indo-European now extinct • The language died because the descendants of the Goths were converted to other languages through process of integration • Example political dominance and cultural preference • Example many Goth switched to Latin language after the switch to Christianity

6. Saving language • The European Union established the European bureau for lesser used languages • Provides finical aid to preserve endangered languages • They expect only 300 languages will survives due to the fact that it has sufficient speakers and official government support

7. Revival of Hebrew • It was an ancient language used during biblical times • Old Testament written in Hebrew • Became extinct in 4th century BC • It was made the official language of Israel along with Arabic • It was chosen for its religious and cultural significance to Jewish migrants

8. Adaptation • Hebrew was adapted by Ben-Yehuda who created the first Hebrew dictionary • This adaptation was necessary because the ancient Language had no words for modern technology.

9. Preservation of Endangered Languages • Celtic was once spoken across Europe by Celtic tribes, • Invasion of Germanic tribes & French lead to its near extinction • Approximately 7% of people in the British Iles speak Gaelic (Celtic) even though it is the official language

10. Why Celtic Disappeared • Celtic Languages disappeared for two reasons The dominance of English and the The cultural belief that English is better.

11. Speakers of Brythonic fled westward to Wales where Welsh became dominated language. • French and English started to emerge and become popular, so in order to preserve Welsh: • Britain’s 1988 Education Act made it so Welsh was taught in all • schools • Welsh History, Music, and Culture have all been added to curriculum • Local gov’ts & utility companies forced to provide services in Welsh. • BBC produces Welsh language television and radio • Welsh speakers increased from 19 percent in 1991 to 21 percent in 2001 Revival of Celtic Languages

12. Irish Gaelic • One of Ireland’s official languages • Grown in recent years especially among younger people • Singers and Musicians started recording things more in Gaelic • Irish language TV stations started broadcasting in 1996 • English road sign banned in parts of Western Ireland in 2005

13. Multi-Lingual States & Belgium & Switzerland

14. Multi-Lingual States • -The boundary between the Romance and Germanic branches of the Indo-European runs through the middle of Belgium and Switzerland • - This can cause difficulties in reconciling the interests of the different language speakers

15. Belgium • Southern Belgians ( aka Walloons), speak French • Northern Belgians (aka Flemings), speak Flemish (a dialect of Germanic language Dutch)

16. Belgium (continued) • - Both groups have difficulties sharing national power • This resulted in the division of Belgium into two regions, Flanders and Wallonia • In the capital of Belgium signs are written in both languages

17. Switzerland • Switzerland is the exact opposite of Belgium, being able to stay peaceful with multiple languages due to a decentralized government. • Local authorities hold most power and decisions are made by voter referenda • Switzerland has 4 official languages: • German (65% of population) • French (18% of population) • Italian (10% of population) • Romansh (1% of population)

18. Isolated Languages through an Unchanging Language: Icelandic (6)

19. Isolated Language • A language unrelated to any other and therefore not attached to any to any language family. • Similarities and differences between languages are a measure of the degree of interaction among groups of people.

20. Pre Indo European Survivor: Basque • The best example of an isolated language in Europe • No attempt to link Basque to the common origin of the other European languages has been successful • Spoken by 600,000 people in the Pyrenees Mountains of northern Spain and southwestern France • Basques lack a connection to other languages represents the isolation of the Basque people in their mountainous homeland

21. An Unchanging Language: Icelandic • It is related to other languages in the North Germanic group of the Germanic Branch of the Indo European family. • It has changed less than any other language on this branch (in the past thousand years)

22. Global Dominance of English English: An Example of a Lingua Franca

23. English: The International Language • English has become the language used to communicate internationally. • Ex: Pilots and Aircrafts

24. Lingua Franca • English is an example of a Lingua Franca • Definition: “Language of the Franks” coined by Arab traders who used the language to communicate with European traders • Pidgin Language: A language that is mixed with a Lingua Franca and one’s own language • Hawaiin Pidgin

25. Many countries have students learning English as a second language. Countries, like Japan for example, have determined that English is imperative to being a part of a global society, and have even considered adding English as a second official language. • Other Examples: • Swahili- East Africa • Hindustani- South Asia • Indonesian- Southeast Asia • Russian- Former Soviet Union

26. Expansion Diffusion Of English

27. Origin • The British Empire Spread English throughout the world through Expansion diffusion. • This was not accomplished by military conquests or migration by English speaking people. • Expansion Diffusion: the spread of a trait through the snowballing effect of an idea rather than through the relocation of people.

28. Expansion Diffusion • English is changing through diffusion of new vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation. • English is also fusing with other languages. • Recent changes are caused by common usage and ethnic dialects. • For Example, African Americans slaves used to have a certain dialect not understandable by their white masters.

29. Ebonics • In the 20th century, more African Americans moved South into large cities within the Northeast and Midwest. • Living in racially segregated communities, African Americans preserved their distinct dialects (Ebonics) • It is considered “Ghetto” English and interchanges certain words in the English language.

30. English Today • People in rural West Virginia also have their own distinct dialect. • Many African Americans consider Ebonics a measure of poor education, while some consider it an element of African American culture. • Much like Ebonics, an Appalachian dialect is part of a regional identity and also considered a measure of poor education.

31. Diffusion of other languages

32. Integration of English • Increasing integrated into other languages • French speakers find the invasion of English to be alarming. • Spanish speakers find it stimulating.

33. Franglais • Franglais: the widespread use of English in the French language • The French are upset with the increasing worldwide domination of English • Language = national pride & identity in France • Protection of the French language in Quebec is even more important because of it’s American surroundings.

34. Spanglish • Spanglish: the combination of Spanish & English • Spoken by 28 million people • Some changes modify the spelling of English words to conform to Spanish preferences • Had become especially widespread in popular culture (i.e. lyrics, TV, magazines) • Critics believes that it substitutes for rigorously learning the rules of standard English & Spanish

35. Denglish • Denglish: The diffusion of English words into German. • The “D” is for Deutsch. The German word for German. • The institute for German language sometimes protests the use of English company titles.

36. English on the Internet

37. English was the dominant language of the internet during the 1990s: • ¾ used English • Higher percentage of e-commerce • A reason why was that the United States (most populous English speaking country) started first on making the internet available to its citizens. • The U.S. responsible for using the English-language nomenclature for the internet (WWW)

38. Dominance of the English Language declined from 71% in 1998 too 27 % in 2005 • Mandarin language online users increased to 22% in 2005 • The U.S. has remained the leading language of e-commerce in 2004 47% of the purchases originated in the U.S. and the other 10 % in other English Speaking countries.

39. The English-based e-business will decline even more …. • Unless the WEB sites of these businesses are optimized to be found by increasingly important search engines.

40. French and Spanish in the United States and Canada

41. In Canada, there are many families whose native language is French; just as there are many families in the United States whose native language is Spanish. Families of both countries use English because it’s the dominant language of the countries and they think its necessary for career advancement and economic success.

42. Canada • Canada’s Official Languages are French and English • Most of the French speaking people live in Quebec • Canada was colonized by the French in the 17th century, then later captured by the British

43. United States • The Unites States has no official language but our government and the majority of our country uses English • There is a large amount of Spanish speakers in the US due to large scale immigration for Latin American countries

44. Case Study Revisited French speakers in Canada and Spanish speakers in the United States currently live in continents dominated by the English language. French Canada • Quebec poorest and least developed Canadian province • Has mandatory use of French in daily activities. • Replacing many English worded signs (ex. Octagonal road signs have exchanged Stop for Arret) • Increased cooperation between French and English speakers • Less segregation between communities • Still difficulties faced by immigrants from non-French dominant countries • Preferred language English

45. Hispanic America • Language unity feature of the United States (Immigrants learn English) • United States a large amount of language diversity • There have been moves to make English the official language of the USA • Linguistic laws Constitutional right of Free Speech • Promotion of bilingual teachings in USA schools • Prevented by lack of resources and economic troubles • English is increasing in importance around the world