TorresBrandon_AppliedLinguistics_Morning_EndangeredLanguages.docx

8/13/2019 TorresBrandon_AppliedLinguistics_Morning_EndangeredLanguages.docx

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Brandon Torres Lozano - 051550232011

4. Some samples of what has been done:

A new Language: Koro-Aka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FthfvVpz_9E&list=PLF66109561E658B8A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA-xjzwfpqU

Hip-Hop in Aka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7epBWBzjjdY

Browse the websites and read about the projects, look at pictures, watch

videos, and most importantly, browse about the situation with languages in

your country.

5. Answer in your own words the following questions about your research:

a. Why do languages die?

The death of a language is more concerned to the nonuse of it as a way of communication.For example, when a language is likely prohibited to use in academic contexts, there is nocommunication purpose of it so it becomes a secondary language.

b. How do languages die?

But there are other ways to language die. Such as not being used by young people (whichmakes the language “not interesting”), in some cases they are not even taught the language

from their parents who want them to have better opportunities and facilities with theofficial language.

A “slow and painful” death of a language is when it is mixed with another language by takingsome words in use, but then grammar is taken, and finally there is no “original” languageanymore.

c. Why should we care?

Language makes people different: different cultures. When a language dies, the culture dies

(Katy Lee, Berkshire). Every single language portrays a different and unique culture (andwithin culture: history, literature, arts, etc.) Language makes varied ways of seeing the world












Brandon Torres Lozano - 051550232011

(for example, some languages gives gender to objects). When a language dies, all the

knowledge within it is lost forever, all the color it provided to the world is gone.

d. Why are endangered languages important?

Every color by its own is simple to view, but many colors mixed make a piece of art.Endangered languages are the key colors of this world. Without those languages, the worldwould become simple as they represent unique and exotic cultures.

Culture and language are the fundamental parts of the identity. Letting die a endangeredlanguage is denying the existence of culture, of a identity, and giving a selfish importance to“most prestigious” or dominant languages is making oppression over people from another

culture.

Another feature found in endangered languages is how a community communicates; inother words, provides more understanding about the creation and usage of languages.

e. Can we change the fate of languages?

If the endangered language is supported by government by considering its existence(providing more opportunities and facilities), the same language would get more youngusers and more people teaching it. More communication would be possible.

f. What are the “Endangered Language” projects about?

Endangered Language is projects that let internet users all around the world to share almost

every king of documents concerning to languages that are endangered. The files users canshare are: videos, word lists, photos, etc.

The materials found in the project (website) are files documenting characteristics of acertain language, experiences, photographs, statistics, and information given by scholars.

The purpose with the information gathered is to document, achieve and understandendangered languages.

g. Which do you think are the biggest differences between the two projects

(Google and National Geographic)? Which is the most organized? Why?

The biggest difference found is the analysis of the language that Enduring Voices do.

Enduring Voices analyzes the languages by taking the media files and studying researchresults and, as a result, give statistics.Considering the factors previous mentioned, the project Enduring Voices is well organized in

comparison with Endangered Language.

Documents

TorresBrandon_AppliedLinguistics_Morning_EndangeredLanguages.docx