Language Loss Research Articles

Lessons for Losing

This essay examines how two very different thinkers address the question of how to live loss. The first is the Canadian Cree artist and writer Tomson Highway, author most recently of Laughing with the Trickster: On Sex, Death, and Accordians, and the second is US environmental writer Elizabeth Rush, author of Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore. In two very different modalities of knowledge making, we see a shared quest for a planetary subject able to live loss in a clear-eyed and affirmative way. For Highway, the question is how to live loss, beginning with language loss, without losing the capacity for laughter and joyfulness. The arts of the trickster are his answer. For Rush, the question is: what changes can we be making now to head off crisis, and what language can make such change meaningful and desirable? We also see the two writers striving to make language respond to the challenge of scale. How do you capture the gigantic without being abstract? Highway moves to the mythic, arguing for Indigenous pantheism. Rush tacks between the particulars of planet science and the personal narratives of those living the loss of place.

From "Language Loss" to "Bilingualism" — Discussing the Cultural Dimension in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language

The term "culture" originates from "The Book of Changes". Western culture is derived from the Latin word "Culture," originally referring to practices such as farming, dwelling, and training, among others. British cultural scholar E. Tylor defined "culture" in "Primitive Culture" as a complex group of abilities and habits acquired by any member that includes knowledge, beliefs, morals, and customs. In the context of teaching Chinese as a foreign language, "culture" can be extended to the understanding of "culture" in "Primitive Culture." The culture of teaching Chinese as a foreign language encompasses the knowledge, beliefs, and morals of both parties. This article discusses "cultural language loss" and "bilingualism," exploring strategies for the development of teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

Revitalization, Maintenance, and Cultivation (RMC) of Surigaonon Language: A Grounded Theory

The study aimedto explore the views and perspectives amongspeech communities in the province of Surigao del Norte on Surigaonon as the L1.Moreover, this paper looked into how the native speakers use of Surigaonon across social varied contexts, their benefits in the maintaining the language use in any transaction including their awareness of language loss or death, cultural and political affairs that promote the maintenance and cultivation of language, and the language curricula of the basic education. The studyemployed a purposive sampling as it chose participants to be interviewed employing a set of open-ended questions withina given time durationby which an informed consent was asked before the interview was initiated. A recorded audio was also made to support necessary concepts and themes established. As supported through the studies and literatures revieweda theory “language revitalization, maintance, and cultivation is sucessfuly achieved when native speakers value the language as a personal identity; the academe and NGOs sustainably collaborate coupled with a strong political will of local governments in imposing language use through ordinances, pro-active programs and activities

Evaluating meaningful changes in physical functioning and cognitive declines in metachromatic leukodystrophy: a caregiver interview study

BackgroundMetachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare lysosomal storage disease caused by deficient activity of arylsulfatase A (ASA). Treatment options for patients are limited; gene therapy based on haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only approved treatment for some subtypes of MLD. Any therapeutic benefit of treatments must be meaningful for patients and their families. We evaluated the clinical meaningfulness of slowing the decline in gross motor function as measured by the Gross Motor Function Classification in MLD (GMFC-MLD) from the caregiver perspective via semi-structured telephone interviews with caregivers of children with late-infantile MLD. We also evaluated the perceived significance of declines in communication abilities measured by the Expressive Language Function Classification in MLD (ELFC-MLD). This work could help to inform the endpoints of a phase 2 clinical trial (NCT03771898) assessing the efficacy of intrathecal recombinant human ASA in MLD.ResultsTwelve caregivers were recruited, reporting on 12 children with MLD. Children had a mean age of 6.1 years; mean age at symptom onset was 17.6 months. Most children (10/12) progressed from walking without support (categories 0–1) to a loss of locomotion (categories 5–6) in ≤ 2 years. Caregivers felt that GMFC-MLD and ELFC-MLD accurately described motor and language declines in their children, respectively. Most caregivers (10/12) reported that the idea of delaying disease progression would be meaningful. Further, a slowing of motor function decline in GMFC-MLD, from category 1 to category 3 or from category 2 to category 4 over 2 years, was seen as meaningful by all caregivers asked; however, only 3/12 caregivers reported that delayed decline would be meaningful if baseline category was ≥ 3. Caregivers also reported that delaying expressive language decline at any level that did not indicate a complete loss of expressive language (indicated by categories 1–3) would be meaningful.ConclusionsCaregivers of children with MLD felt that a delayed decline in gross motor function, as assessed by the GMFC-MLD, would be meaningful, supporting the selection of primary and secondary endpoints for the phase 2 clinical trial. Communication abilities were another area of significance for consideration in future clinical trial design.

Sámi Literature in Norwegian Language Arts Textbooks

Sámi Literature in Norwegian Language Arts Textbooks

Language Attitudes and Ethnic Language Loss in Algeria: The Case of the Chaoui Variety Among Young Users in the City of Oran

This article surveys language use in the city of Oran, Algeria. It aimed to study the language attitudes of a small community of Chaoui speakers towards their language with the other languages spoken in the city, namely Standard Arabic, Algerian Arabic, and French. The results showed that though the Chaoui speech community is still emotionally attached to its ethnic language and considers it part and parcel of its identity, the Chaoui language is clearly witnessing a decline, which might eventually lead to death. The other languages, however, maintain themselves thanks to tight domain division, whereby Standard Arabic is used in official and formal situations, French, in the sciences, and Algerian Arabic, in informal interpersonal communication. The study concludes by stressing the role of schools in maintaining the country’s ethnic languages to allow them to survive outside their regions.

EFL Teachers’ Perception Self-Directed Professional Development Toward Oral Language Maintenance

This case study presents an EFL teacher's perception of self-directed professional development aimed to maintain and enhance her oral language proficiency to support her professional growth. Semi-structured interviews were used as the primary guides to extract information concerning EFL teachers' self-directed professional development (PD) activities associated with the maintenance and enhancement of oral language proficiency. The participant of this study was an EFL teacher who experienced oral language attrition and has motivation to maintain her oral language proficiency. Data were analyzed descriptively to result in EFL teacher perceptions of self-directed PD activities that demonstrates a positive attitude towards improving and maintaining her oral language skills as an integral aspect of her professionalism. The result indicated that self-directed professional development activities had a significant impact on the participants' recognition of the importance of maintaining oral language skills. These activities also emphasized the need to continuously improve and enhance their oral language proficiency, highlighting the benefits it brings to both teaching and learning. One specific example mentioned was the participant's engagement in self-directed PD activities using Netflix series, which proved to be highly beneficial for improving linguistic features. These efforts contribute to her long-life growth as a language teacher, enabling her to provide effective language instruction and create an engaging learning environment for her students. The study highlights the importance of self-directed professional development in supporting EFL teachers' language maintenance and the positive impact it has on their professionalism.

Ancestral Environmental Technology: Pre-hispanic Foundations for Regenerative Sustainability

Purpose: This contribution has two objectives: 1) to define in context, how the word téchnē and technology are linked to the Nahuatl notion in context; and 2) to characterize pre-hispanic environmental technologies in order to subjectively and materially project the practical utility of ancestral environmental technologies, precisely because they are capable of halting and even reversing the socio-environmental consequences derived from the current climate and ecosystem crisis. Methodological design: From a historical-material perspective, an exploratory study of non-exhaustive and ontological-semantic nature is presented, whose strategy articulated and differentiated the Aristotelian etymon téchnē with the oldest one found in classical Nahuatl language. Previous criterion to characterize pre-Hispanic environmental technology and discuss its specific examples. Results: The way in which Mesoamerican technologies were organized and implemented demonstrates that they achieved what is currently sought through sustainabilty over 2,000 years ago. The concept and characteristics defining and differentiating pre-Hispanic Nahuatl technology from the current techno-scientific-industrial paradigm were provided. Toltecáyotl-amantecáyotl accounts for a productive and organizational system, sentient and alive, which guides the design of truly ecological new technologies. Among others, maize-milpa-chinampa technologies persist and are multidimensionally rewarding. Research limitations: Currently, the complete number of technologies developed, their typology, and their locations are unknown. In Mexico, the disintegration of rural areas is accompanied by a loss of language, knowledge, and objects, which raises the difficulty of accessing ancestral technical-scientific memory. Findings: Pre-hispanic technology is ecological, but not all current environmental and sustainable technologies are.

Revitalization of First Nations languages: a Queensland perspective

First Nations languages can play a significant role in ensuring connection to land, culture, Songlines, kinship, history, and stories. Ongoing language attrition for First Nations peoples of Australia has been due to colonization and past adverse government policies, which rendered First Nations languages a threat to the expansion of the colony. Through processes of dislocation from country and punishment for speaking language, many First Nations peoples began to lose their languages and were forcefully compelled to speak the English language on missions and reserves. Promoting First Nations languages in early educational contexts can instill a sense of cultural identity and connectedness to schooling for First Nations children, helping to ensure that languages are passed on to future generations. In many parts of Australia, First Nations languages are being revitalized and are being taught to both First Nations children and non-Indigenous children in early learning centers and in classrooms. This paper draws upon existing literature, briefly examining the removal of First Nations languages in Queensland from a historical perspective. The authors consider three essential elements required to work with First Nations communities when revitalizing First Nations languages and implementing a successful language program into schools: co-design, authentic delivery, and cultural inclusivity. We demonstrate how these elements have been used in the revitalization of First Nations languages in two Queensland schools. Finally, the importance of using an Indigenous centered approach to maintain languages at a local level is posited as a critical step in creating culturally inclusive environments for First Nations children in mainstream school settings.

The Promise of Assessments That Advance Social Justice: An Indigenous Example

ABSTRACT IIn the United States, systemic racism against people of color was brought to the forefront of discourse throughout 2020, and highlighted the on-going inequities faced by intentionally marginalized groups in policing, health and education. No community of color is immune from these inequities, and the activism in 2020 and the consequences of the pandemic have made systemic inequities impossible to ignore. In the Hawaiʻi context, social and racial injustice has resulted in cultural and language loss (among other markers of colonization), but it is within this loss that we can see the potential for the most significant evolution of assessment practices that champion self determination and social justice. We illustrate how injustices can be addressed through the development of assessments centered in advocacy of and accountability to our communities of color. It is time for us to reimagine what self-determination and social justice in all assessment systems can and should look like.

Dementia in Diabetes: The Role of Hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia, a common consequence of diabetes treatment, is associated with severe morbidity and mortality and has become a major barrier to intensifying antidiabetic therapy. Severe hypoglycemia, defined as abnormally low blood glucose requiring the assistance of another person, is associated with seizures and comas, but even mild hypoglycemia can cause troubling symptoms such as anxiety, palpitations, and confusion. Dementia generally refers to the loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other cognitive functions, which can interfere with daily life, and there is growing evidence that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of both vascular and non-vascular dementia. Neuroglycopenia resulting from a hypoglycemic episode in diabetic patients can lead to the degeneration of brain cells, with a resultant cognitive decline, leading to dementia. In light of new evidence, a deeper understating of the relationship between hypoglycemia and dementia can help to inform and guide preventative strategies. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology of dementia among patients with diabetes, and the emerging mechanisms thought to underlie the association between hypoglycemia and dementia. Furthermore, we discuss the risks of various pharmacological therapies, emerging therapies to combat hypoglycemia-induced dementia, as well as risk minimization strategies.

From Linguicism to Language Attrition: The Changing Language Ecology of Gilgit-Baltistan

The study examines potential threats and prospects for the linguistic ecosystem of Balti and other local languages spoken in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The researchers employ a mixed-methods approach in the study and the data is collected from 305 respondents through a survey questionnaire developed on Google forms. The respondents are either native Balti speakers or use Balti as their second or link language. The questionnaire used in the study contains both close-ended and open-ended questions. The findings of the study show that the linguistic ecosystem of Balti and other local languages is highly endangered and has been severely contaminated. These languages are losing their domains of use at an increased pace mainly due to the arrival of digital media in the region. Language attrition, mediated by relexification, is at its peak, and the future prospects for Balti and other minority languages of Gilgit-Baltistan seem quite bleak due to the growing influence of linguistic imperialism in the region which is being facilitated mainly through the system of education and the digital media.

Exploring Intergenerational Linguistic Identity of Dhatki Speakers in Sindh, Pakistan

Pakistan is a multilingual country where seventy four languages are spoken (Siddiqui, 2019). English is the official language, while Urdu is used as a common Lingua Franca; while each province has its own provincial official language (Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto & Balochi). The language policy of Pakistan promotes dominant languages only; as a result indigenous languages are becoming extinct and gradually are on the verge of language shift and death in urban areas. Hence, maintaining a linguistic identity in such a context pose serious challenges to the speakers of a language. This paper explores the linguistic identity of Dhatki language speakers across three generations in the different districts of Sindh. For this purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted and data was collected using open-ended questionnaire and the responses were analyzed thematically. Data was collected using purposive and snowball sampling from 33 participants. The results highlighted that Dhatki language was going through a gradual language loss, its speakers stigmatized the use of the language due to lack of documentation, and the constant use of dominant languages in different spheres of social and educational life. The speakers attributed this shift to governmental negligence and language activist’s behavior towards Dhatki language

When does second language learning lead to first language attrition?

When does second language learning lead to first language attrition?

The Ethnolinguistic Vitality of Gulgulia

Summary Language death is a phenomenon with symptoms related to demeaning vocabulary count and depletion of domains of language use along with the simplicity of linguistic structures. It commences by exhibiting traits of a declining number of fluent speakers, dwindling attitude of the speakers with regard to their heritage language, language shift, lack of inter-generational language transfer accompanied by a feeling that heritage language is inferior to outside languages, and Gulgulia exhibits every trait of such a dying language. It has become a waning language that is very close to its permanent extinction. The present study elucidates the ethnolinguistic vitality of Gulgulia tested through chosen sociolinguistic parameters which were found suitable to Gulgulia’s scenario. It also explores the linguistic situation of the Gulgulian community in Dhanbad, the community members’ language use in their homes and in their miscellaneous interethnic interactions and examines what relation prevails between the community’s language preference and their vitality. It was found that speaker variables, such as age, gender, and language competence governed the speaker’s attitude toward the heritage language. The location of the speech community is also a regulating factor in determining the inclination for preservation or attrition of the native language. The analysis of the speech behavior in the Gulgulian community confirms the loss of major genres such as the art of narration. Out of all the genres of language use, only two are surviving, which is alarming.

On Influencing Factors of Lexical Attrition

One of the key research issues of language attrition is lexical attrition. There have been a great number of empirical studies investigating the influencing factors of second language lexical attrition for more than 40 years. This article aims at clarifying the concept of language attrition and discuss the main influencing factors of lexical attrition, and suggesting potential directions for future research. After analyzing the relevant studies, we find the influencing factors of lexical attrition can be roughly divided into two categories, including objective factors such as attrition time, language acquisition methods, influencing factors related lexis, etc. and subjective factors of learners such as learners’ age, gender, emotional factors and so on. Combined with the factors that affect lexical attrition, this paper finally talks about the enlightenment on foreign language vocabulary teaching for China.

Interhemispheric connections in the maintenance of language performance and prognosis prediction: fully connected layer-based deep learning model analysis.

Language-related networks have been recognized in functional maintenance, which has also been considered the mechanism of plasticity and reorganization in patients with cerebral malignant tumors. However, the role of interhemispheric connections (ICs) in language restoration remains unclear at the network level. Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) and diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking data were used to identify language-eloquent regions and their corresponding subcortical structures, respectively. Preoperative image-based IC networks and nTMS mapping data from 30 patients without preoperative and postoperative aphasia as the nonaphasia group, 30 patients with preoperative and postoperative aphasia as the glioma-induced aphasia (GIA) group, and 30 patients without preoperative aphasia but who developed aphasia after the operation as the surgery-related aphasia group were investigated using fully connected layer-based deep learning (FC-DL) analysis to weight ICs. GIA patients had more weighted ICs than the patients in the other groups. Weighted ICs between the left precuneus and right paracentral lobule, and between the left and right cuneus, were significantly different among these three groups. The FC-DL approach for modeling functional and structural connectivity was also tested for its potential to predict postoperative language levels, and both the achieved sensitivity and specificity were greater than 70%. Weighted IC was reorganized more in GIA patients to compensate for language loss. The authors' method offers a new perspective to investigate brain structural organization and predict functional prognosis.

Linguistic Dispossession in Colombia: The Case of San Andres Island

ABSTRACT This article examines the “linguistic dispossession” of the creole-speaking Afrodescendent communities in the Archipelago Colombian island territory of Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina. Considered are the socio-spatial re-configurative processes of linguistic dispossession and how it has transformed the landscape, livelihoods, and daily communitive practices of Afrodescendent communities on the island territory. It analyzes the processes through which the Colombian State deliberately carried out linguistic and cultural dispossession via strategies known as “Colombianization” and describes the relationship between the loss of the local languages, the production of space, and processes of dispossession through education and religion.

"Sometimers, Alzheimer's? I love that! That's definitely me": Readers' Responses to Fictional Dementia Narratives.

This article presents findings from an interdisciplinary project which invited readers to experience the impact of dementia via fictional characters' narratives. Combining methods from critical gerontology and literary linguistics-a field that examines the language of literature-we undertook an empirical reader response study of dementia fiction. We constructed a large corpus of dementia fiction; selecting 12 extracts, each containing first-hand, focalized accounts of fictional characters' experiences of living with dementia. Readers (31) were purposively sampled for 4 separate reading groups-student social workers (9); general public (9); family carers (6); and people with dementia (7). Over 6 weeks they engaged in separate, facilitated, on-line group discussions of extracts. Discussions were independently coded using ATLAS.ti. Although readers from all 4 groups reported that fictional characters drew them into the internal life of someone with dementia, some carers questioned whether fictional characters' experiences were plausible. Readers with dementia recognized themselves in the extracts; viewing fictional characters as eloquent envoys of their lived experiences of diagnosis, social isolation, loss of language, and use of humor. Fictional characters offer an entry point for understanding contrasts in caregiver and care-receiver experiences of dementia. Fictional characters are potentially useful for moving dementia narratives beyond monstrous cultural metaphors and onto a disability-based rights agenda.

Relation between electrical compound action potential measures and speech perception in cochlear implanted children: audiological and phonological outcomes

PurposeTo study ECAP measures (threshold and amplitude growth function 'AGF') in children CI users and find the relation between these ECAP measures and speech outcomes using audiological and phonological assessment.Subjects and methodTwenty-one children were unilaterally implanted with Medel CI, and all subjects were submitted to phonological assessment, basic audiological assessment, speech recognition tests (WRS and BKB-SIN) and Medel maestro software measures (IFT, AutoART and AGF measures "thresholds and slopes" across apical, middle and basal electrodes).ResultsThis study demonstrated no statistically significant difference between AGF thresholds at apical, middle and basal electrodes and a statistically significant difference between AGF slopes at apical and both middle and basal electrodes. There was no statistically significant correlation between the ECAP threshold and speech perception tests. In contrast, a positive statistically significant correlation was found between the AGF slope of the apical electrode and word recognition score, and a negative statistically significant correlation between AGF slopes at apical, middle and basal electrodes and SNR loss of BKB-SIN. High sensitivity and specificity of AGF slope at apical electrode were found to differentiate between good and poor performers as regards SNR loss of BKB-SIN and language test.ConclusionsThe AGF slope reflects neural survival better than the ECAP threshold. AGF slope at apical electrodes correlated with better CI performance in both phoniatric and audiological measures of speech perception and can be used as an objective tool to predict CI outcome.