Post by maolsheachlann on Oct 9, 2019 11:54:05 GMT
Does anyone have any views on language death and endangerment? This is what Wikipedia says on the subject:
"In the modern period (c. 1500 CE–present; following the rise of colonialism), language death has typically resulted from the process of cultural assimilation leading to language shift and the gradual abandonment of a native language in favour of a foreign lingua franca, largely those of European countries.
As of the 2000s, a total of roughly 7,000 natively spoken languages existed worldwide. Most of these are minor languages in danger of extinction; one estimate published in 2004 expected that some 90% of the currently spoken languages will have become extinct by 2050.["
Is this not a tragedy? And is it a by-product of globalization? Shouldn't we care about the human "ecology" as well as the animal ecology?
In his book Guthanna in Éag, linguist James McCloskey says he knows of only three languages (and one is a sign language) that have been born in the twentieth century. So this is not something we can chalk down to " 'Twas ever thus". Languages are dying and new languages are not being created.
Daniel O'Connell notoriously said of the Irish language: "“I am sufficiently utilitarian not to regret its gradual abandonment. A diversity of tongues is of no benefit; it was first imposed as a curse, at the building of Babel. It would be of vast advantage to mankind if all the inhabitants of the earth spoke the same language.
“Therefore, although the language is associated with many recollections that twine round the hearts of Irishmen, yet the superior utility of the English tongue, as the medium of all modern communication is so great, that I can witness, without a sigh, the gradual disuse of Irish”.
I personally find that attitude baffling. Why would we want the world to become smaller and poorer in this regard?
Of course, it is not only language that is endangered by globalization, rationalization, standardization, and homogenization. It is cultures, as well. I'm often baffled at the lack of concern many Catholics and conservatives show about this.
"In the modern period (c. 1500 CE–present; following the rise of colonialism), language death has typically resulted from the process of cultural assimilation leading to language shift and the gradual abandonment of a native language in favour of a foreign lingua franca, largely those of European countries.
As of the 2000s, a total of roughly 7,000 natively spoken languages existed worldwide. Most of these are minor languages in danger of extinction; one estimate published in 2004 expected that some 90% of the currently spoken languages will have become extinct by 2050.["
Is this not a tragedy? And is it a by-product of globalization? Shouldn't we care about the human "ecology" as well as the animal ecology?
In his book Guthanna in Éag, linguist James McCloskey says he knows of only three languages (and one is a sign language) that have been born in the twentieth century. So this is not something we can chalk down to " 'Twas ever thus". Languages are dying and new languages are not being created.
Daniel O'Connell notoriously said of the Irish language: "“I am sufficiently utilitarian not to regret its gradual abandonment. A diversity of tongues is of no benefit; it was first imposed as a curse, at the building of Babel. It would be of vast advantage to mankind if all the inhabitants of the earth spoke the same language.
“Therefore, although the language is associated with many recollections that twine round the hearts of Irishmen, yet the superior utility of the English tongue, as the medium of all modern communication is so great, that I can witness, without a sigh, the gradual disuse of Irish”.
I personally find that attitude baffling. Why would we want the world to become smaller and poorer in this regard?
Of course, it is not only language that is endangered by globalization, rationalization, standardization, and homogenization. It is cultures, as well. I'm often baffled at the lack of concern many Catholics and conservatives show about this.