Lost languages a loss for world (fwd)

[Sue Penfield]

Phil,
How are you doing? Keep me posted!  I have hired Christina Roberts to help
with the final stages as I told you -- she is excited and also says her mom,
who is a semi speaker, I think, would be willing to test the training
materials for us -- I'm not happy about the room situation but I guess we
will have to go with it....
Best,
Susan
----- Original Message -----
From: "phil cash cash" <cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU>
To: <ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 2:29 PM
Subject: Lost languages a loss for world (fwd)


> Lost languages a loss for world
> http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20040416wo61.htm
>
> Cristoph Mark Daily Yomiuri Staff Writer
>
> For good or bad, our world is becoming ever more globalized,
> industrialized and homogenized, and most people are aware of the
> effects on the world's ecology. We regularly find species disappearing
> from the face of the planet, never to be seen again.
>
> But unlike the plight of the panda or the Japanese ibis, said Tasaku
> Tsunoda, the extinction of languages is something of which most people
> remain unaware.
>
> Tsunoda, a professor of linguistics at Tokyo University and leading
> expert in Aboriginal Australian languages, will be a keynote speaker at
> Linguapax Asia 2004, to be held Saturday at United Nations University
> in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.
>
> Languages disappear for many reasons. In some cases, the language
> becomes obsolete and is replaced by a dominant language, with the few
> remaining speakers growing old and dying without passing on their
> knowledge and heritage.
>
> With many other languages, the younger generation loses its mother
> tongue in favor of an adopted tongue, as is the case with many Koreans
> born and raised in Japan.
>
> "There are a number of researchers who work on the Korean language as
> spoken in Japan, and they say that the Korean language is now
> disappearing among the younger generation," Tsunoda pointed out.
>
> In fact, like many countries, Japan is not as linguistically homogenous
> as many people might think.
>
> Perhaps the most well-known minority language in Japan is Ainu, the
> language of the indigenous peoples of Hokkaido, which there is a strong
> movement to protect.
>
> But there are other languages in Japan that are not so well known.
>
> A language known as Nivkh, which was native to the islands north of
> Hokkaido, became effectively extinct after its last speakers were moved
> to Hokkaido, according to Tsunoda.
>
> Chinese is quickly disappearing in Yokohama's famous Chinatown, the
> professor added. The younger generations are using more and more
> Japanese, forgetting their mother tongue.
>
> Similar things are happening with the language of Japanese-Brazilians.
>
> "In Hadano (Kanagawa Prefecture), there's a huge Brazilian and Peruvian
> community, and the kids are not speaking Spanish or Portuguese
> anymore," Frances Fister-Stoga, English professor and organizer of the
> conference, pointed out.
>
> Tsunoda began studying Warrango, a dying Aboriginal language, while a
> student in Queensland, Australia. During his time there, he recorded
> more than 50 hours of the language and folk stories.
>
> The language was on the verge of extinction before Tsunoda returned to
> Australia 26 years later and began teaching Warrango to descendants of
> the language's speakers. He has since been asked to help revive other
> Aboriginal languages.
>
> Tsunoda is actively trying to get Queensland's Monash University, his
> alma mater and the university where he teaches private Warrango
> classes, to offer the language as part of its curriculum, thereby
> creating interest in, and prestige for, the language. But, as potential
> enrollment appears low, it remains an uphill battle.
>
> Together with top linguists from around the world, Tsunoda will present
> a paper titled Language Loss and Language Revitalization in Australia
> at the inaugural Linguapax Asia conference.
>
> Linguapax Asia is a spin-off group of the UNESCO-backed Linguapax
> Institute, which focuses on language issues, such as rights, ecology,
> preservation and so on.
>
> Although the Barcelona-based institute holds conferences worldwide, this
> will be the first time one has been held in an Asian country.
>
> Felix Marti, founder of the organization, was the recipient of the
> UNESCO human rights award and has been recognized by the Vatican for
> his work in language and peace, concepts from which the "Linguapax"
> name is derived.
>
> Although actively promoting language rights and preservation, the
> institute is not in a position to implement any programs, Fister-Stoga
> said.
>
> "(Linguapax) is a more informative type of thing, and solutions could be
> recommended, but it's not political," she stressed.
>
> The conference, co-organized by the United Nations University, will
> feature speakers from around the world, all specialists in their
> fields, and will also feature talks on subjects as diverse as national
> languages, bilingual education and a trilingual village in Thailand.
>
> Linguapax Asia 2004 will be held at the university on Saturday from 9
> a.m. to 6 p.m. Presentations not given in English will be accompanied
> by English information and materials.
>
> For further information on the Linguapax Institute and its activities,
> please visit its Web site at www.linguapax.org.
>
> Copyright 2004 The Yomiuri Shimbun