music and language

Thu Nov 15 13:40:52 UTC 2012

all

Redirecting this somewhat, has anybody done anything on the role of music/poetry/song in language maintenance (as opposed to language education)?

I'm thinking of the role of music and poetry in creating/defining a space where some endangered language is more easily spoken. My interest in this comes from Welsh where this is certainly the case.

diolch yn fawr,

mike h.

On Nov 14, 2012, at 4:14 PM, Bruce Mannheim wrote:

I agree completely.   At U Michigan, we've found that singing is a VERY effective way of teaching southern Quechua, even though there is sometimes an initial reluctance on the part of students to let themselves go and actually treat language learning as fun and not just one more formal intellectual exercise.  But the real plus is that the songs are organized by a Quechua logic and through a Quechua aesthetic, and the students learn that as well without realizing that that is what is happening.

Sumaqllaña,

Bruce

Bruce Mannheim
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Anthropology
University of Michigan
1085 South University Av
Ann Arbor MI 48109-1107

+734.276.1627
+51.974.392.796

Ankamanta chaskisunki
A2

On Nov 14, 2012, at 6:05 PM, Richard Zane Smith wrote:

Great topic!
the kids I teach from Jan. to May only get 20 minutes of "language instruction" a week...( i know, its pitiful - most of our nation is still snoring)
but in that short time , i teach the language using songs I've written and composed specially designed to be platforms to launch them into sentences and dialog.
IT works!! the kids learn better and respond more comfortably, more naturally in the language IF THEY CAN SING IT together.
starting with song, then progressing to TPR the kids may spend 20 minutes submersed in the language without english
and are not aware of it.

now if we can simply get the nation to see the essential nature of arts,language,culture as more than a museum exhibit....
-Richard

On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 4:23 PM, Dave Pearson <Dave_Pearson at sil.org<mailto:Dave_Pearson at sil.org>> wrote:
SIL’s EthnoArts consultants study the interaction of language with various arts, including music. You can watch a 5-minute video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_H-DPN9yik

Dave Pearson
SIL International

From: Indigenous Languages and Technology [mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU<mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>] On Behalf Of Phillip E Cash Cash
Sent: 14 November 2012 14:19
To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU<mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: [ILAT] music and language

Greetings ILAT,

I recently saw an amazing video showing Gabby Giffords the Arizona Congresswoman recovering from her brain injury stemming from a bullet that passed thru the left side of her brain.  The video describes how she was able to regain her speech thru music thus demonstrating quite effectively the neurological link between music and language learning.

http://youtu.be/ndNn3Ucxt5k

I just wanted to post the video simply to spark some conversation on the topic of music & language.  If it is a new idea or if you simply want to see music being put into action please take a look at the video.  For some of you, I'm sure this will be quite familiar.

Phil
UofA

--

For it hath ever been the use of the conqueror to despise the language of the conquered and to force him by all means to learn his. - Edmund Spenser,  (1596)

richardzanesmith.wordpress.com<http://richardzanesmith.wordpress.com/>

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