FW: the argument for language maintenance

[John Hobson]

Hi,

There might be some value in detaching the issue of maintenance (and
revitalisation) from that of funding and addressing the conservation values
of retaining unique expressions of human culture, like species and
environments. 

And, while not eschewing the advantages of having money, if the survival of
languages is to be solely dependant on funds and government intervention
they will always be in difficulty. There are many activities which can be
carried out at little or no direct cost if people are determined to keep
their languages alive.

Talk, as they say, is cheap.

Regards,

John

JOHN HOBSON | Lecturer
Coordinator, Indigenous Languages Education | Koori Centre
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Rm 214, Old Teacher¹s College A22 | The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006
T +61 2 9351 6994 | F +61 2 9351 6924
E john.hobson at sydney.edu.au | W
http://sydney.edu.au/koori/staff/jhobson.shtml

"When you lose a language, you lose a culture, intellectual wealth, a work
of art. 
It's like dropping a bomb on a museum, the Louvre."
Comment by the late Kenneth Hale, cited in The Economist (November 3, 2001).


------ Forwarded Message
> From: Margaret Carew <margaret.carew at batchelor.edu.au>
> Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:40:22 +1100
> To: <r-n-l-d at unimelb.edu.au>
> Subject: FW: the argument for language maintenance
> 

> 
> 
> Hi there
> 
> I got this question - see below - from a (non-linguist) colleague. I thought
> it would be interesting to conduct a quick survey amongst RNLD members, so
> please read on...
> 
> Folks,
> 
> When you have a quiet reflective moment...
> 
> re: the argument for language maintenance
> 
> What are the standard replies given to people who complain that there
> are too many Aboriginal languages for language maintenance, that
> supporting all those languages will cost too much, etc.
> 
> And New Zealand is given as an example where language maint is
> practical, because only 1 language.
> 
> I'm thinking there must be some standard ideas on this question in
> linguistic circles.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

------ End of Forwarded Message

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