Lost languages a loss for world (fwd)

[Sue Penfield]

Sorry, mistaken post to  the list!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue Penfield" <sdp at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU>
To: <ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: Lost languages a loss for world (fwd)


> 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