Language Revitalization Research Articles

Language Revitalization Efforts of Meänkieli among Small Children in Sweden

Language Revitalization Efforts of Meänkieli among Small Children in Sweden

From private dialect to public language: Transforming Moroccan Arabic through the voices of sub-Saharan African immigrants

Over the past few decades, Morocco has witnessed a surge of activity related to colloquial Moroccan Arabic, or Darija ( dārija), a vernacular variety of Arabic that is unstandardized and officially unrecognized. Darija has become increasingly present in domains that were previously reserved for standard Arabic ( fuṣḥā), and there has been a tangible shift in how Moroccans think about their “mother tongue.” Largely unremarked, though, is the fact that this linguistic shift has coincided with another major transition: the transformation of Morocco from a “sender” country to a “receiver” country, i.e., from a mere transit point for irregular Mediterranean migration to a sought-after destination for cosmopolitan African immigration. This article investigates the intersection of these two shifts by looking at the use of Darija by sub-Saharan African immigrants in Morocco. Based on fieldwork in two urban centers, Casablanca and Tetouan, it argues that Darija has become a key site for sub-Saharan African immigrants to negotiate their place in Moroccan society. It also argues that their growing audibility in the Moroccan soundscape is challenging commonplace assumptions about the limited and provincial nature of Darija. Ultimately, I contend that Darija is transitioning toward what Woolard (2016) has called a public language, and that this shift is due not only to Moroccan language activists but also to sub-Saharan African immigrants.

Melding language and image: Kaytetye Indigemoji as a language learning project

ABSTRACT Purpose In recent years, digital projects have created tools for learning languages, such as mobile applications (apps). In contexts where the language has low prestige, innovative digital learning tools can support language revitalisation. This article takes the Australian Kaytetye Indigemoji app as a case study in community resource development. It aims to do two things: (1) show how resource development can be a vital forum for language teaching and learning; and (2) assess the affordances of digital images—fundamental to the Indigemoji app—for Indigenous language learning. Methodology Taking an ethnographic approach encompassing informal conversation and participant observation embedded in relevant literature, we analyse the community workshop where the Kaytetye Indigemoji app was developed. Findings We find that the development process can provide an essential language-learning activity. We also find that visual opportunities presented by the app harness existing multimodal practices in central Australian Indigenous communities, including symbolic art and a highly developed alternate sign language. We show that effective digital learning resources can be built through community development processes which engage with local learning methods. Value This research identifies how digital resource development can be harnessed to be maximally useful for Indigenous language learning in a small and relatively disadvantaged area in Australia.

Foreign language acquisition of perceptually similar segments: evidence from Lower Sorbian.

Lower Sorbian is a moribund language spoken in Eastern Germany that features a three-way sibilant contrast, /s, ʂ, ɕ/. The vast majority of L1 speakers are above eighty years of age and virtually no young Sorbians learn Lower Sorbian as their first language. There are language revitalization programs in place, but this means that virtually all Lower Sorbian speakers are L2 learners whose first language is German. German, as opposed to Lower Sorbian, has a two-way sibilant contrast, /s, ʃ/. So, Lower Sorbian learners need to acquire a perceptually similar sibilant contrast, /ʂ, ɕ/, that commonly assimilates with a single L1 segment, /ʃ/. The two-to-one assimilation makes acquisition difficult. In this project, I examine the acquisition of the three-way sibilant contrast using ultrasound technology. The ultrasound data revealed that learners in the contemporary context do not produce a distinction between /ʂ, ɕ/ and only learners at an advanced level who had significant exposure to L1 speakers have acquired a three-way sibilant distinction. The findings are put into the context of models of L2 acquisition and generalized implications for foreign language acquisition are discussed.

Language revitalization through a social movement lens: grassroots Galician language activism

In this article, a social movement lens is applied to examine the dynamics of an urbanbased language revitalization movement in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (North-western Spain). The potential of Resource Management Theory is explored as a way of systematically analysing the dynamics of urban-based language revitalization movements. It does this by identifying factors which both helped fuel the emergence and growth of this Galician grassroots movement as well as those constraining its potential development. Drawing on in-depth interviews and observations collected over six months of ethnographic fieldwork in one of Galicia’s main cities, social movement theory is used to analyse the role of Galician social movement activists as social agents in shaping the success of their language revitalization initiative. We argue that a social movement lens provides a useful analytical toolkit to focus on the grassroots efforts of social agents involved in peripheral ethnolinguistic mobilization in minority language contexts such as Galicia. Ultimately, we aim to show that these social movement revitalization initiatives go beyond language as an object and are centred around language-based struggles which not only address strategy dilemmas but also scaffold social relations and ties among speakers as they mobilize within particular institutional fields.

Prevocalic word-initial glottal stops in Rote: Implications to language revitalisation

This paper presents an analysis of word-initial glottal stops in Rote and its implications for language revitalization programs. A number of phonological, morphological and syntactic evidence confirms that, in most cases, the status of the initial glottal stops can be determined; some are epenthetic, while others are contrastive. The difference between the two is evident in specific environments. Only a few instances are found in which the data are ambiguous. The data from Rote shows that a unitary analysis of the word-initial glottal stops is not possible. Thus, the status of such glottal stops needs to be carefully considered in orthography design for Rote languages to avoid underrepresentation or overrepresentation, which may lead to issues in the learnability of the orthography. This study contributes to (i) the exploration of variation and universality of prevocalic initial glottal stops, especially in Eastern Indonesian languages, and (ii) the orthography development of languages in Rote and the neighboring languages as an effort to language revitalization.

When minoritized languages encounter MT

Machine translation (MT) is improving even for low-resource minoritized languages such as Basque, for which free online engines are available. However, the level of adoption and common practices involving the technology are unknown, even though it has the potential to disrupt a carefully planned Basque language revitalization and sustainability process. To shed light on MT usage habits and perceptions among the Basque community, we report on the results of a survey of language specialists and general users, and a focus group with professional translators and interpreters. The data shows that MT is already becoming more popular among users of all backgrounds and that, overall, the attitude towards the technology is positive, which might result in increased use in the future. However, participants express concern about the impact MT will have on the development of Basque. The results call for further research on the language impact of MT and MT literacy initiatives.

Ē-pī-wīcihtāsowin ahpō ē-pī-wīchisowin: non-indigenous learners in Indigenous language-learning spaces

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to ongoing conversations on the contextual differences and considerations between learning an Indigenous language as a member of an Indigenous nation or community and learning an Indigenous language as a non-Indigenous person (Albury, 2015; Berardi-Wiltshire & Bortolotto, 2022; May 2023; O’Toole, 2020; Te Huia, 2020). While we see value in considering how non-Indigenous Canadians can positively contribute to Indigenous language revitalization efforts, we also want to consider the consequences of that involvement for Indigenous Peoples who are asked to share Indigenous language learning spaces with non-Indigenous students. As a group of colleagues from different communities, all with connections to Indigenous language revitalization, we came together to consider questions such as: Are Indigenous languages for everyone or are they languages that should be learned only by Indigenous peoples? And if we accept or encourage Indigenous language learning by non-Indigenous Canadians, are there parameters that might need to be implemented? To this end, we used the Indigenous research method of conversation (Kovach, 2010) during biweekly meetings recorded on Zoom. Data consisted of meeting transcripts and web-based documents of written reflections. In our analysis of these documents, we identified three interrelated themes: 1) linguistic insecurity, 2) trauma and language learning and 3) settler dominance in Indigenous language settings. As a settler colonial country, Canada’s past and present continues to shape interactions between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians in ways relevant to the topic of Indigenous language revitalization. Ultimately, we do want non-Indigenous people to learn Indigenous languages so that these languages can once again be languages of broader society (McIvor, 2012). We also recognize that Indigenous Peoples deserve to reclaim Indigenous languages in safe and trauma-free ways. Ultimately, we must work together to ensure that including non-Indigenous learners in Indigenous language programs does not cause injury to Indigenous learners. This paper offers recommendations for ways to achieve these goals.

Implementasi Bahasa Indonesia Sebagai Bahasa Pemersatu: Analisis Bahasa di Tanah Papua

Language is a communication tool for every human being in everyday life to establish interactions in the social environment. This research is a case study that discusses the analysis of language varieties in Papua. The type of research used in compiling this research is using descriptive qualitative with the inclusion of a literature review method. Furthermore based on the resulth of research that has been carried out, it was found that there are more than 300 regional languages in Papua, and the object of regional language revitalization in Papua in 2023 consists of 9 languages. Therefore to connect communication between the people, the use of Indonesian implemented among the Papuan people, however its implementation, has its own characteristic, because the Papuan people want fast andconcise language use.

Following Indigeneity to unbuild inequities in teaching for multilingualism: restoring relationship with the Land

ABSTRACT This theoretical article explores how Land-based education could help decolonize language education, starting from the case of dual language bilingual education (DLBE) in the United States. We invoke other scholars’ metaphor of basements versus boutiques to understand how such programs have often either been colonially marginalized into basements or colonially gentrified by middle-class White students. We extend this DLBE problematic beyond and beneath the human-made buildings implied in the basements and boutiques metaphor toward the decolonizing potential Land offers. We analyzed relevant literature on Indigenous language and culture revitalization programs in North America, calling on their expertise and leadership in how to center Land-based thinking and ways of knowing across DLBE. We argue that Land-based pedagogy’s critiques of settler colonialism and Mother Earth’s destruction by humans can help DLBE expand its equity focus toward societal transformation that goes beyond human-centered and language-centered thinking. We theorize what it would mean to bring Land to the heart of non-Indigenous DLBE programs, including six actionable recommendations for a Land-based reframing of DLBE that can further unbuild the coloniality of basements and boutiques.

Paradigm Shift of Language Revitalization in Indonesia

Language revitalization as a linguistic social movement that aims to preserve and promote local languages, is experiencing a paradigm shift in Indonesia. These shifts can be seen from the aspect of language status objects. That is meant here is that the object of language status in language revitalization is not only languages with minority and endangered status. All local languages in Indonesia can be revitalized. Based on these conditions, this study explores the shift in the language revitalization paradigm in Indonesia. This aims to explain the structure of paradigm shift and provide an explanation for understanding language revitalization in its historical development in Indonesia. The study method uses qualitative methods with data collection techniques from the results of literature studies. Data analysis refers to Thomas Samuel Kuhn’s structure of the scientific revolution in terms of paradigm shift. As a result, the shift in the language revitalization paradigm in terms of the language status object is based on the heterogeneity of languages in Indonesia. Meanwhile, all languages in Indonesia must and have the right to be preserved in accordance with statutory regulations. This condition makes the government regulate language revitalization regulations that apply to all languages so that all languages in Indonesia receive the same treatment in the context of language preservation efforts.

Heritage language revitalisation and music

ABSTRACT In this introduction to the special issue ‘Heritage Language Revitalisation and Music', we consider how viewing the complex challenge of language precarity through the lens of music and music-making – and related modes of expression culture – reveals new solutions to language shift and loss. This volume's focus on language revitalization with and through music offers an innovative perspective in its emphasis on music as the primary point of encounter with languages. As such, it offers a previously unrecognized and undervalued means of supporting heritage languages – minority languages to which learners typically have exposure through community and family. After briefly defining ‘heritage languages' and ‘language revitalization,’ we review the literature that explores the intersections between music and language revitalization, focusing on its value to status planning, corpus planning, and language acquisition and use. We finish by summarizing the key contributions of the six articles comprising this special issue.

Indigenous Language Revitalization and Preservation in Canada: Strategies and Innovations

Indigenous Language Revitalization and Preservation in Canada: Strategies and Innovations

Decolonizing Language Revitalization on Tuscarora Nation Territory

Abstract: This article discusses the revitalization of the Tuscarora language, an Iroquoian language. These efforts were further mobilized and transformed by the loss of one of the last elders who spoke the language in 2018. This article puts light on the nuances of language revitalization, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, resources, and reconnection with historical and cultural roots. Specifically, the importance of collaboration between grassroots community organizations, in this case, the Neyękwawętaˀθkwahshek Tuscarora Language Program (NTLP), with linguistic expertise and the support of external institutions, such as the American Philosophical Society. The piece highlights collaborative strategies that support language revitalization and the importance of fostering equitable, accountable relationships among Indigenous communities, linguists, and academic institutions supporting revitalization efforts.

ПОЧЕМУ У НАС НЕ ПОЛУЧАЕТСЯ СОХРАНЯТЬ ЯЗЫКОВОЕ МНОГООБРАЗИЕ? (I) СОХРАНЕНИЕ ЯЗЫКОВ РОССИИ, ЯЗЫКОВАЯ ПОЛИТИКА И ЯЗЫКОВАЯ РЕВИТАЛИЗАЦИЯ

In recent years, “preservation of linguistic diversity” has been included as one of the goals of the state nationality policy. Efforts to preserve languages are undertaken both at the level of state policy “from above” and the practical activities of language activists “from below”. However, despite the official recognition of the problem of language loss and the rise of language activism, it has not yet been possible to achieve any noticeable results in solving the practical problem of preserving languages. In this article, I analyze the reasons for the ineffectiveness of these efforts and argue that obstacles exist not only at the level of practical activity, but also in applied research. Language policy practitioners implement language policy “from above,” but so far their work remains without solid scientific and conceptual grounds. In the world science at the moment there are two relevant research programs – research on language policy and research on language revitalization. In Russian science, at the theoretical level in the study of language, society and power an adequate interdisciplinary basis has not yet appeared, therefore, at the applied level, there is no high-quality scientific expertise in the field of policy for the preservation and development of Russian languages and their revitalization.

CВІТАНОК БІЛОРУСЬКОЇ НЕЗАЛЕЖНОСТІ ТА УЗУРПАЦІЯ ВЛАДИ РЕЖИМОМ ОЛЕКСАНДРА ЛУКАШЕНКА

Despite the geographical and cultural proximity, the contemporary history of Belarus is poorly represented in Ukrainian historiography. The study of the socio-political processes that took place in the Republic of Belarus after it became an independent country is necessary to understand the reasons for the failure of its nationally oriented course in 1991–1994, the Lukashenko regime’s coming to power and its subsequent transformation into a state unfriendly to Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic bloc. After gaining independence during the «parade of sovereignties» in 1988–1991, Belarus began to experience the processes of national revival of the Belarusian language and culture and democratisation of social and political life, initiated by the national conservatives from the Belarusian Populat Front (BPF), but already in the fourth year of independence, the above-mentioned processes were curtailed and the Republic of Belarus, headed by the permanent president Alexander Lukashenko, became known as «Europe’s last dictatorship». Nevertheless, mass opposition protests have been taking place almost throughout the entire period since 1994, from the so-called Minsk Spring to the large-scale protests of 2020. The article generally chronicles the anti-authoritarian resistance of civil society in Belarus in the 1990s, examining the formation and activities of Zianon Pazniak’s Belarusian People’s Front party, the confrontation between different branches of power against the backdrop of Alexander Lukashenka’s first victory in the presidential election and his subsequent usurpation of power, human rights violations, fraud during the presidential election, regime repression of the opposition and its activities. A special focus on the Belarusian Popular Front is due to the importance of this party as the most significant opposition force during the period of independent Belarus’ existence.

The Multilingual Dynamics of Cameroon: Exploring the Influence of Mother Tongue

Cameroon, a central African country, is known for its linguistic diversity, with over 284 languages spoken within its borders. The mother tongue plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage and promoting identity, as it serves as a carrier of traditions, customs, and values. Speaking one's mother tongue allows for deeper connection to emotions and thoughts, leading to stronger self-expression. However, the country's official languages, English and French, can sometimes overshadow local languages, posing challenges. Despite these challenges, preserving the mother tongue is essential for national unity and promoting effective communication. Governments and educational institutions can support local languages by allocating resources, creating policies for inclusion, and encouraging language maintenance and revitalization efforts. This approach fosters unity and celebrates the unique linguistic fabric of Cameroon, allowing the country to continue to prosper and maintain cultural vibrancy.

Returning Forgotten Voices: Indigenous Language Documentation and Revitalization in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract: In collaboration with the APS, CNAIR, and the support of a Franklin Research Grant, in 2016 we embarked on the 'Returning Forgotten Voices/ Retornando las Voces a Sus Orígenes ' Project. The aim of this collaborative initiative was to repatriate sound recordings held at the APS since the 1960s, a unique linguistic and ethnographic corpus pertaining to the Oaxacan Chontal Indigenous group, currently considered among the most endangered languages in Mexico. In Total we visited 16 Highland Chontal communities and left about 250 CDs, DVDs, and other forms of digital reproductions. Together with local partners and intellectuals, we were also able to re-introduce a facsimile of a 1922 linguistic description of Tequistlateco Chontal back to that community. A secondary goal of the project was to gather comparable linguistic data for our ongoing multidisciplinary study on linguistic diversifications and regional collective displacements, with the contribution of 51 contemporary Chontal speakers. Finally, we conducted introductory 'Master-Apprentice' workshops in each community, which aimed to spur language revitalization efforts. The project members and Chontal collaborators currently continue with linguistic diversification research and cultural revitalization efforts, with the support of our Mexican partners at the National Institute of Indigenous Languages and the Center for the Study and Development of Indigenous Languages of Oaxaca, and through the LADORES Linguistic Lab at California State University, Los Angeles. In this article we discuss the enduring achievements and challenges of the 'Returning Forgotten Voices' Project, and in particular focus on drawing lessons for similar initiatives in Mexico and beyond.

Цифровая надежда ревитализации исчезающих языков Камчатки: мобильное приложение для изучения корякского языка «Koryak tuyu»

This article discusses indigenous language revitalization and the role of digital technologies in language preservation. The focus is on the Koryak language, one of the seven endangered indigenous languages in Kamchatka. A framework for the ethnolinguistic situation in Kamchatka is provided, followed by an overview of endeavors aimed at preserving and advancing indigenous languages in the area. Next, the application of digital technologies to Koryak language learning is introduced. To promote technology inclusion among remote communities, the research team at Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University, led by the author of this study, has developed a mobile application called “Koryak tuyu.” This app can be used as a supplementary tool for studying the Koryak language, both in home-based individual learning and classroom settings. There are four parts: alphabet, grammar reference, ten lessons, and basic vocabulary, providing a substantial volume of content in terms of textual and audio media. There is an option to click on any word or phrase and listen to the audio recording. The lessons are structured to enable individuals without prior knowledge of Koryak to acquire vocabulary and phrases. The repetition of focal words in the lessons serves as a method of rote memorization. Each Koryak word is accompanied by its translation into Russian, with each word written using a Koryak keyboard layout with a few specific letters. The utilization of this application is possible for users even in the absence of an Internet connection, an essential aspect for remote villages in Kamchatka with unstable Internet connectivity.

Language (re)vitalization

Abstract Many small languages are in danger of extinction. How to stop and reverse this process is an important topic in the sociolinguistic literature. In addition to the revitalization of languages, there are also some examples of vitalizing (bringing to use) “new” languages, for example the introduction of Ivrit (modern Hebrew) in Palestine/Israel. Generally speaking, for a language to be used, no matter which language, the users must find it attractive and useful. At least two factors are important here: the value attributed to the language by its users as a means of communication and as a carrier of culture and identity. It is assumed that these factors can be influenced by language-policy measures. The impact of various measures on the vitality of the language is an empirical matter. However, one can draw some general conclusions regarding which measures are sensible in order to vitalize or revitalize which languages when the financial resources of the policy-maker are limited. In this introductory text to the theme issue, we apply the methodology of cost-effectiveness analysis to discuss the connection between the types of the policy measures employed and characteristics of the language communities addressed, such as size, social status, and residential patterns. The cost-effectiveness ratio of street signs in a minority language might, for instance, be higher for a community spread over a whole country than for a community of the same size concentrated in one geographically limited jurisdiction. On the other hand, a decision to publish the texts of laws and decrees of a country in a minority language will have approximately the same effect for both types of minorities. The articles in this special issue of LPLP address and evaluate different types of policy measures for different linguistic minorities and illustrate important aspects of the main questions in this paper.