Economic Growth Causes Extinction of Aboriginal Languages, Study (fwd link)

[Phil Cash Cash]

*Sep 04, 2014 03:22 AM EDT*

By Stephen Adkins <http://www.universityherald.com/reporters/stephen-adkins>,
University
​ ​
Herald Reporter

*Economic Growth Causes Extinction of Aboriginal Languages, Study*

Economic boom triggers language extinction, according to a University of
Cambridge study.

The researchers urge the United Nations to pay attention to hotspots in
both developed (north Australia and the north-western corners of the US and
Canada) and developing (Himalayan regions, Brazil and Nepal) countries,
where languages are in danger of extinction. Global leaders must keenly
participate in the preservation of linguistic diversity.

In the northwest corner of North America, the languages of the local people
are vanishing at an alarming rate. For example, Upper Tanana - a language
spoken by indigenous Athabaskan people in eastern Alaska - had only 24
active speakers in 2009 and was no longer being learnt by the children
there. In 2008, it was reported that just one person could fluently speak
the Wichita language of the Plains Indians in Oklahoma.

On the other hand, aboriginal languages like Margu and Rembarunga from the
peninsulas of Australia's Northern Territories are dying at a faster rate.

​Access full article below:
http://www.universityherald.com/articles/11220/20140904/economic-growth-extinction-aboriginal-languages-cambridge-united-nation.htm
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