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Language Catalogue WorkshopLanguage Catalogue WorkshopMax Planck
Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyMax Planck Institute for
Evolutionary Anthropology
June 28, 2007, Leipzig, GermanyJune 28, 2007, Leipzig,
Germany
Some general problems of Some general problems of language
geographylanguage geography
Ljuba Ljuba VeselinovaVeselinovaDept of Linguistics, Stockholm
UniversityDept of Linguistics, Stockholm University
[email protected]@ling.su.se
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Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation
Language composition of modern citiesLanguage composition of
modern cities
Mapping the distribution of nonMapping the distribution of
non--sedentary sedentary peoples and their languagespeoples and
their languages
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OutlineOutline of the problemof the problem
The The languagelanguage distribution in urban areas
distribution in urban areas tendstendsto be absent in to be absent
in traditionaltraditional languagelanguage atlasesatlasesYetYet
46% of the world population 46% of the world population
liveslives in urban areas in urban areas ((DemographiaDemographia,
,
www.demographia.com/dbwww.demographia.com/db--worldua.pdfworldua.pdf))
1203 urban areas with 1203 urban areas with moremore thanthan
500,000 500,000 inhabitantsinhabitants in 164 in 164
countriescountries and and territoriesterritories
Urban areas Urban areas tendtend to be to be
multimulti--linguallingual
IgnoringIgnoring the the linguisticlinguistic
compositioncomposition of urban of urban areas gives areas gives
usus a a skewedskewed picturepicture of the of the
languagelanguagedistribution distribution aroundaround the worldthe
world
http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdfhttp://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf
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Mapping languages in cities is Mapping languages in cities is
contingent oncontingent on
various kinds of census where the quality various kinds of
census where the quality would differ depending onwould differ
depending on
The questions asked by the census The questions asked by the
census volonteersvolonteersThe kind of information that is made
publicThe kind of information that is made public
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Main Groups of Questions asked by Main Groups of Questions asked
by the Canadian censusthe Canadian census
First language learned in childhoodFirst language learned in
childhoodLanguage(sLanguage(s) understood and spoken at home)
understood and spoken at homeLanguage(sLanguage(s) used with
friends) used with friendsLanguage(sLanguage(s) used until age of
15) used until age of 15
With parentsWith parentsWith siblingsWith siblings
Knowledge of official and nonKnowledge of official and
non--official languages of official languages of
CanadaCanadaLanguage(sLanguage(s) used at work (added 2001)) used
at work (added 2001)
Language most often used at workLanguage most often used at
workAny other Any other language(slanguage(s) used on a regular
basis at the workplace) used on a regular basis at the
workplace
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General info on nonGeneral info on non--sedentary sedentary
languages languages
Based on the Based on the EthnologueEthnologue 1515Nomadic
languagesNomadic languages
70 languages from 24 stocks70 languages from 24 stocksTotal
population: 24 590 376 peopleTotal population: 24 590 376
people
SemiSemi--nomadic languagesnomadic languages42 languages from 23
stocks42 languages from 23 stocksTotal population: ca 12 775 685
peopleTotal population: ca 12 775 685 people
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Some general facts about Some general facts about OromoOromo
AfroAfro--Asiatic, Cushitic Asiatic, Cushitic Ca 10 Ca 10 mlnmln
speakers in Ethiopia and Kenyaspeakers in Ethiopia and Kenya
70, 869 in Kenya according to the 1969 census70, 869 in Kenya
according to the 1969 censusca 100,000 to 150,000 in Kenya (ca
100,000 to 150,000 in Kenya (StroomerStroomer 1995)1995)
StatusStatusUnclear in EthiopiaUnclear in EthiopiaActively used
in Kenya, radio Actively used in Kenya, radio station(sstation(s)
in Oromo, ) in Oromo, other ethnic groups switch to Oromo (Dahl
1979, other ethnic groups switch to Oromo (Dahl 1979,
StroomerStroomer 1995)1995)
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Boraana
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Garissa
Wajir
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Some general problems of language geographyOutline of the
presentationOutline of the problemMapping languages in cities is
contingent onMain Groups of Questions asked by the Canadian
censusGeneral info on non-sedentary languagesSome general facts
about Oromo
