General Motors Purchases Indian Languages (fwd)

[Sheri J. Tatsch]

To all, parody, maybe here. Appropriation is occurring worldwide of
all things indigenous intangible.To the extent that UNESCO has been
campaigning for the legal protection of such through the
international courts. The protection of Indigenous languages is
international law. -Sheri

>Dear ILAT,
>
>The previous message was/is a parody, a fiction (according to the
>webpage that posted it as news).  So do not be alarmed.
>
>heenek'e (again),
>
>Phil Cash Cash
>UofA, ILAT
>
>
>>  ----- Message from cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU ---------
>>      Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 23:38:39 -0700
>>      From: Phil Cash Cash <cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU>
>>  Reply-To: Indigenous Languages and Technology
><ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
>>   Subject: General Motors Purchases Indian Languages (fwd)
>>        To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
>>
>>  General Motors Purchases Indian Languages
>>  http://www.watleyreview.com/2003/072903-2.html
>>
>>   General Motors (GM) has announced the purchase of exclusive rights
>>  to
>>  the entire Algonquian language family, including such well-known
>>  tongues as Cheyenne, Cree, and Mohican, in a $1.6 billion dollar
>>  deal.
>>
>>   "We are confident that this acquisition will benefit both the
>>  peoples
>>  who speak these languages and GM," said company spokesman Karl
>>  Hennessey.  "This is truly a rare win-win situation."
>>
>>   GM acquired the languages in an apparent effort to secure the rights
>>  to
>>  potentially thousands of cool-sounding names for automobiles. With
>>  one
>>  of the least creative management structures in the automotive
>>  industry,
>>  GM has for years produced cars with increasingly lame names that have
>>  hurt sales.
>>
>>   "The problem is almost everything is getting used up," GM Vice
>>  Chairman
>>  Bob Lutz told Reuters recently. "If you have a good name, it can
>>  help.
>>  I've seen a lot of stupid names in my life."  These would presumably
>>  include the 2003 Buick GoThing, the 2002 GM Pustule, and the 2003
>>  Oldsmobile Scab.
>>
>>   By purchasing exclusive rights to an Amerindian language family
>>  which
>>  includes over 30 different languages, GM is hoping to counter similar
>>  efforts by competing companies such as DaimlerChrysler, which
>>  recently
>>  purchased Portuguese.
>>
>>   "The GM arrangement is very generous," said Bureau of Indian Affairs
>>  (BIA) Secretary Gerald Howton.  "It permits the tribes to continue
>>  using the languages free of charge through 2030, after which point,
>>  if
>>  there are any surviving native speakers, they can continue to use the
>>  language under attractive subscription terms."  Any names which GM
>>  adopts as automobile names will be removed from eligibility, but GM
>>  has
>>  agreed to provide a list of no fewer than three synonyms for any word
>>  removed from circulation.
>  >
>  >  "This is incredibly insulting," said Powhatan tribal elder Mark
>  > Matoaka
>  > before scaring this reporter away with stern glances.
>  >
>  >  "The BIA will do everything it can to ensure that the funds from GM
>>  are
>>  distributed fairly and equitably," said Howton.  "Our record speaks
>>  for
>>  itself."
>>
>>
>>  ----- End message from cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU -----

--
Sheri Tatsch
Executive Director
Native American Language Center
Department of Native American Studies
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
530-754-8361