UNESCO to Publish Handbook on Language Preservation and Documentation (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

here is the news link...
http://www.noticias.info/Asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=30621&src=0

> ----- Message from cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU ---------
>     Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:09:11 -0700
>     From: phil cash cash <cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU>
> Reply-To: Indigenous Languages and Technology
<ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
>  Subject: UNESCO to Publish Handbook on Language Preservation and
Documentation (fwd)
>       To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
>
> UNESCO
> http://www.unesco.org/
> Francia
> Educación > Organizaciones @@
> Noticia nº: 30621
> Agencia emisora: 
> mié 11 Ago 2004
>
> UNESCO to Publish Handbook on Language Preservation and Documentation
>
> Aimée Lahaussois, a Linguistic Expert in Nepalese languages, along
> with
> several leading international experts in linguistic and language
> revitalization, have been developing a Language Preservation
> Handbook.
> This project is one of the activities carried out by UNESCO’s
> Initiative B at bel which seeks to promote multilingualism in cyberspace
> and preserve endangered languages.
>
> Recently, Aimée was in Nepal carrying out independent research on
> endangered languages. She seized the opportunity to use the handbook
> and field test its effectiveness.
>
> The handbook, entitled “Language Preservation and Documentation
> Handbook: South Asia version”, provides a methodology for native
> speakers of endangered languages to record their languages for
> posterity. The project was inspired by requests from several members
> of
> ethnic minorities in Nepal who were interested in self documenting
> their languages. For many ethnic groups, assimilation and other
> processes have lead to the decline of indigenous culture as well as
> their languages and knowledge systems. UNESCO would like to see this
> rich human heritage preserved.
>
> The handbook guides the reader through the process of collecting
> linguistic data on one’s endangered language in the absence of a
> linguist, as well as stories which are an important part of the
> heritage of the community. The document begins with a questionnaire
> covering background information on the language community, followed
> by
> advice on creating a writing system, and lists of key words. It then
> guidelines them in recording and transcribing stories, and concludes
> with material on various aspects of the grammar of the language,
> through questionnaires and translation exercises. Oral recordings of
> the languages are also an important part of this exercise.
>
> Here are some of the impressions of Aimée Lahaussois’ first
> experience
> with the handbook:
>
> “Working with a young speaker of an endangered language reinforced
> for
> me what documentation is all about, and why it is important to
> provide
> tools so native speakers can carry out their own documentation: after
> three weeks of excellent work with a very talented and enthusiastic
> speaker, I tried to pay him as compensation for the time and energy
> he
> put into our sessions, thinking this would be welcome, as life is
> particularly difficult for students in a developing country. I was
> moved when he refused the money, citing that it was I who deserved
> compensation as I was doing his community the enormous favour of
> making
> sure their language was recorded and preserved. Clearly there is a
> great need for efforts such as this.”
>
> It is hoped that the results will not only provide a record of the
> language, as spoken by native speakers, but will also stimulate
> renewed
> community-wide interest in the language, which may in turn reduce the
> rate at which languages are being lost.
>
> Indeed, a great many minority languages are disappearing around the
> world and those which disappear without a trace represent a great
> loss
> of cultural heritage. One critical reason is that they are not being
> passed on to the younger generations. Some of the causes include
> pressure on children to use national languages, unavailability of
> education in the language spoken at home, migration away from the
> homeland amongst others. Often, only older speakers are left and when
> they disappear, so do these languages. In the case of languages with
> no
> written form which have not been documented, no trace remains of what
> was once a vibrant and unique language and culture.
>
> A CD-ROM and print version of this handbook will be published by the
> end
> of September.
>
> 11/08/2004
>
>
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