Call to Protect Dying Indigenous Languages (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

CALL TO PROTECT DYING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES

By Nance Haxton, ABC
April 10, 2012, 9:56 am
AUS

Linguists say there is a critical need to preserve Indigenous Australian
languages that are in danger of dying out.

Research shows that up to 90 per cent of the world's 7,000 languages could
be lost by the end of the century.

Of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, only 20 from of an
original 250 are still widely spoken.

Adelaide University linguistics professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann says they
should be better recognised as part of the country's heritage.

Today he is delivering a special university seminar on a worldwide movement
to revive extinct and endangered languages, and is imploring Australians to
take part.

"I think that Australia holds one of the world's records for linguicide,
for the killing of language," he told AM.

Access full article below:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/13380077/call-to-protect-dying-indigenous-languages/
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