Indigenous languages in threat of extinction (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

Indigenous languages in threat of extinction

June 2, 2012
AUS

A number of Aboriginal languages are in danger of extinction, a
parliamentary committee was told this week, with just 20 to 30 considered
viable.

In 1788, it is estimated, more than 250 languages were spoken. By 2005,
when the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies did a national survey of languages, it identified just 145
languages. Of those, 110 were classified as ''severely and critically
endangered'', meaning they were spoken by small groups of people who were
mostly older than 40.

The standing committee for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs on
languages, which met on Thursday, was told it could cost $900 million to
save languages under threat.

Read more:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/indigenous-languages-in-threat-of-extinction-20120601-1znjb.html#ixzz1wqwFu8Pk
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