Loss of global languages threatens culture, history: Language expert (fwd link)

[phil cash cash]

Loss of global languages threatens culture, history: Language expert

BY ALLISON CROSS, CANWEST NEWS SERVICENOVEMBER 3, 2009
Canada

When the last native speaker of an endangered language dies, does that language
die with them?

Not necessarily, say academics, although there's a risk of losing significant
ties to cultures, communities and collective histories.

"A language is not just words and grammar. It is a web of history that binds all
the people who once spoke the language, all the things they did together, all
the knowledge they imparted to their descendants," said Anthony Aristar,
professor of linguistics at Eastern Michigan University, in a news release.
"When a language dies, it's just the same as when a species dies. You lose a
part of the network of life, and you lose everything it could impart."

Aristar is part of a group of international academics and endangered language
speakers who will participate in a conference and workshop about at-risk
languages at the University of Utah next week.

Access full article below:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Loss+global+languages+threatens+culture+history+Language+expert/2180283/story.html