Can dubbing a cartoon help save a language? (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

Can dubbing a cartoon help save a language?

Published On Fri Sep 23 2011

By Antonia Zerbisias
Feature Writer
USA

Bear Country is now Sioux territory.

That’s because the classic cartoon The Berenstain Bears is being
dubbed into the endangered Lakota language and running on public TV in
North and South Dakota.

Mathó Waúnsila Thiwáhe — which translates to The Compassionate Bear
Family — is the first animated series to be translated into a native
American language in the U.S.

Originally produced at Toronto’s Nelvana studios, it’s being dubbed
under the auspices of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the non-profit
Lakota Language Consortium. License fees were waived by Mike
Berenstain, son of the creators Jan and Stan, and rights were secured
from Nelvana at no cost.

“Kids love cartoons,’’ says anthropologist Wilhelm Meya, executive
director of the Lakota consortium, which works with thousands of Sioux
children to keep their ancient tongue alive. “The Berenstain Bears
will help save a language” — one now spoken by fewer than 6,000
people, according to Meya.

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http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1058949