11.349, Disc: Species Extinction vs Language Extinction

[The LINGUIST Network]

LINGUIST List:  Vol-11-349. Thu Feb 17 2000. ISSN: 1068-4875.

Subject: 11.349, Disc: Species Extinction vs Language Extinction

Moderators: Anthony Rodrigues Aristar: Wayne State U.<aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Dry: Eastern Michigan U. <hdry at linguistlist.org>
            Andrew Carnie: U. of Arizona <carnie at linguistlist.org>

Reviews: Andrew Carnie: U. of Arizona <carnie at linguistlist.org>

Associate Editors:  Martin Jacobsen <marty at linguistlist.org>
                    Ljuba Veselinova <ljuba at linguistlist.org>
		    Scott Fults <scott at linguistlist.org>
		    Jody Huellmantel <jody at linguistlist.org>
		    Karen Milligan <karen at linguistlist.org>

Assistant Editors:  Lydia Grebenyova <lydia at linguistlist.org>
		    Naomi Ogasawara <naomi at linguistlist.org>
		    James Yuells <james at linguistlist.org>

Software development: John H. Remmers <remmers at emunix.emich.edu>
                      Sudheendra Adiga <sudhi at linguistlist.org>
                      Qian Liao <qian at linguistlist.org>

Home Page:  http://linguistlist.org/


Editor for this issue: Karen Milligan <karen at linguistlist.org>

=================================Directory=================================

1)
Date:  Thu, 17 Feb 2000 14:31:22 +1100
From:  Lance Eccles <lance.eccles at mq.edu.au>
Subject:  Re: 11.338, Disc: Species Extinction vs Language Extinction

2)
Date:  Thu, 17 Feb 2000 10:26:19 EST
From:  HilaireVal at aol.com
Subject:  Re:       11.338, Disc: Species Extinction vs Language Extinction

-------------------------------- Message 1 -------------------------------

Date:  Thu, 17 Feb 2000 14:31:22 +1100
From:  Lance Eccles <lance.eccles at mq.edu.au>
Subject:  Re: 11.338, Disc: Species Extinction vs Language Extinction

Anthea Gupta writes:
>
>Just to say that we need to remember that languages are constructs.
>There are no languages.  Only people performing language and people
>creating abstract notions of language.
>

I just love it! The postmodernist view of language! I've stuck it up on the
noticeboard outside my office.

Lance Eccles

Lance Eccles
Department of Asian Languages
Macquarie University
NSW 2109
Australia
fax +61 2 9797 0003
ph  +61 2 9850 7023
lance.eccles at mq.edu.au
http://www.ocs.mq.edu.au/~leccles


-------------------------------- Message 2 -------------------------------

Date:  Thu, 17 Feb 2000 10:26:19 EST
From:  HilaireVal at aol.com
Subject:  Re:       11.338, Disc: Species Extinction vs Language Extinction

To briefly respond to Anthea Fraser:

The correspondent Anthea Fraser (avoiding any gender assumption on the basis
of first name!) stated "Languages are constructs." So there need be no regret
at the loss of such a construct, any more than for a bicycle.
First, I strongly agree that languages are "constructs," but they are
*social* constructions. There is no such thing as a "language" unless it is
socially constructed and given a name (whether by insiders or outsiders is a
further interesting question). Such a construct is an essential part of the
common activity of constructing a people.
Second, I strongly disagree with the conclusion: I regret when a *people*
dies, even if the individuals continue living (speaking another language,
amalgamated into another culture). That regret may sound like (and be) sort
of unscientific sympathy for the inevitable. But to equate a language which
is constructed by, and constructs, a people, with a bicycle is beyond belief.
Nonetheless, I think the Ahthea Fraser's comment was helpful; it made me, at
least, think again about what we mean by "language" as a social construct.
And why languages and cultures should not be destroyed, precisely as
constructs.
All the best. Hilaire Paul Valiquette

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-11-349