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Whether a "rare language" benefits from social media or not depends
on a number of factors. In his paper "A framework for measuring the
presence of minority languages in cyberspace", Maik Gibson at the
3rd International Conference on Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in
Cyberspace in Yakutsk, 28 June to 3 July, 2014, gave a good overview
of the issue (cf <a
href="https://www.academia.edu/7503946/A_framework_for_measuring_the_presence_of_minority_languages_in_cyberspace">https://www.academia.edu/7503946/A_framework_for_measuring_the_presence_of_minority_languages_in_cyberspace</a>).<br>
Fwiw,<br>
Oliver<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 31-Jul-14 2:23 AM, Andrew Cunningham
wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:CAGJ7U-VZxeONYMx62qvEk4kvTjgvCWQUmd5US6nWvJDiR=OQOw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
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<div>Although at the same time social media provides unique
challenges for languages that use lesser used writing scripts.<br>
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Andrew<br>
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<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
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On 31 July 2014 07:43, Phil Cash Cash <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:weyiiletpu@gmail.com"
target="_blank">weyiiletpu@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><font
size="4"><b>For Rare Languages, Social Media Provide
New Hope</b></font><br>
<br>
By LYDIA EMMANOUILIDOU<br>
Originally published on Sat July 26, 2014 6:59 pm<br>
<br>
At a time when social media users, for no particularly
good reason, are trading in fully formed words for
abbreviations ("defs" instead of "definitely"), it may
seem that some languages are under threat of
deterioration — literally.<br>
<br>
But social media may actually be beneficial for
languages.<br>
<br>
Of the estimated 7,000 languages that are spoken around
the world, UNESCO projects half will disappear by the
end of the century. But social networking websites such
as Facebook and Twitter are in a position to revitalize
and preserve indigenous, minority and endangered
languages, linguists and language-preservation activists
say.<br>
<br>
One of the reasons some indigenous languages are
endangered is that increased connectivity through the
Internet and social media have strengthened dominant
languages such as English, Russian and Chinese, says
Anna Luisa Daigneault of the Living Tongues Institute
for Endangered Languages.<br>
<br>
Endangered languages stand a greater chance of survival
when they are used online.<br>
<br>
"Having a Web presence for those languages is super
important for their survival. Social media are just
another connection point for people who want to stay
connected to their language," says Daigneault, Latin
America projects coordinator and development officer at
the institute.</font>
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<div class="gmail_default"><font face="arial, helvetica,
sans-serif">Access full article below: </font></div>
<div class="gmail_default"><font face="arial, helvetica,
sans-serif"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wkms.org/post/rare-languages-social-media-provide-new-hope"
target="_blank">http://wkms.org/post/rare-languages-social-media-provide-new-hope</a></font></div>
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<br>
-- <br>
<div dir="ltr">Andrew Cunningham<br>
Project Manager, Research and Development<br>
(Social and Digital Inclusion)<br>
Public Libraries and Community Engagement <br>
State Library of Victoria<br>
328 Swanston Street <br>
Melbourne VIC 3000<br>
Australia<br>
<br>
Ph: +61-3-8664-7430<br>
Mobile: 0459 806 589<br>
Email: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:acunningham@slv.vic.gov.au" target="_blank">acunningham@slv.vic.gov.au</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:lang.support@gmail.com" target="_blank">lang.support@gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.openroad.net.au/"
target="_blank">http://www.openroad.net.au/</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.mylanguage.gov.au/"
target="_blank">http://www.mylanguage.gov.au/</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/"
target="_blank">http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/</a><br>
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