FW: the argument for language maintenance

[Margaret Carew]

Hi there

I got this question - see below - from a (non-linguist) colleague. I thought it would be interesting to conduct a quick survey amongst RNLD members, so please read on...
 
Folks,

When you have a quiet reflective moment...

re: the argument for language maintenance

What are the standard replies given to people who complain that there 
are too many Aboriginal languages for language maintenance, that 
supporting all those languages will cost too much, etc.

And New Zealand is given as an example where language maint is 
practical, because only 1 language.

I'm thinking there must be some standard ideas on this question in 
linguistic circles.