LL-L: "Language death" LOWLANDS-L, 13.FEB.2001 (03)

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 13.FEB.2001 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic, Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: Ian James Parsley [parsleyij at yahoo.com]
Subject: LL-L: "Language death" LOWLANDS-L, 13.FEB.2001 (01)

Folk,

In response to Gabrielle Kahn's submission, I would
suggest that one of the keys to this is to promote
active bilingualism from an early age.

The point is that study after study has consistently
shown that no harm whatsoever is done to children if
they are brought up bilingually (trilingually, on the
other hand, *is* a problem). Therefore the answer is a
relatively simple one - bring the child up in its
native tongue, and in the official national or
regional language. That way the child has a good
knowledge of its own identity and culture through its
own language, while being at absolutely no
disadvantage (perceived or otherwise) to fellow
nationals - in fact in some cases it will be at an
advantage since it will probably find learning further
languages later in educational life easier.

I would say (though Cristoir may know more about this
than I) that the most effective and successful Irish
medium school in Northern Ireland is the Bunscoil at
Armagh City. Without any government grants it gained
consistently higher attendances than equivalent
schools with bigger catchment areas which were
receiving grants. It did this through successful
marketing, and that marketing was based on the central
aim of bringing children up bilingually (that's to say
Irish at school and English at home). It was only a
secondary issue, albeit an important one, that the
second language happened to be their own, the tongue
with the longest literary history in Western Europe.
Parents are still unlikely to be won over by that
argument, no matter how compelling, for fear that the
child might lose something by being brought up
bilingually. Once you promote the point, you're on to
a winner. (Needless to say the school is now well
funded with 29 pupils the last I heard)

This is a message those of us who represent 'minority'
or (a better term) 'lesser-used' languages should
strive to promote.

------------------
Ian James Parsley
www.geocities.com/parsleyij
+44 (0)77 2095 1736
JOY - "Jesus, Others, You"

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