Language Revitalization Research Articles

Exploring the role of digital media in the intergenerational transmission of the Igbo language

English colonialism minoritised the Igbo language, but it was a low level of intergenerational transmission, among other fringe factors, that ultimately endangered it. Since the language has a scanty presence in the broadcast media, and it has totally lost the print media domain, any hope of revitalising it lies with the emerging new media networks. Using mixed methods, this study gauges the extent to which a new media organisation has encouraged the acquisition of the Igbo language and filled the gulf created by older Igbo generations’ loss of the crucial family, home, neighbourhood and community pathways to transmitting the language to the young people. Findings show that by publishing on new media sites, BBC News Igbo has created several viable agencies for the production and transmission of literacy and oracy in the Igbo language. Theoretically, the findings substantiate an expert hypothesis that although it is under-utilised for language revitalisation, the internet holds immense hope for the survival for endangered languages.

Ainu language use and display in the National Ainu Museum

Abstract Based on a critical analysis of the museum’s linguistic landscape and a discourse analysis of the museum texts, this paper explores how the Indigenous Ainu language is both used and displayed in the National Ainu Museum and discusses how these observations relate to the museum’s overt language policy and potential role as a site for Ainu language revitalisation. Though Ainu has been announced as the official first language of the museum, this study suggests that there is incongruity between overt policy and practice. While Ainu is clearly the symbolic first language, in practice Japanese and English are the museum’s two main languages, echoing the different functions and values associated with these languages. Although the museum is participating in concrete language maintenance initiatives, the exhibition texts discuss language revitalisation as a purely linguistic campaign, detaching it from broader contemporary society and Indigenous rights issues. These findings show how language use and display in museums are connected to the surrounding ideologies and policies, but do not necessarily need to be confined by them.

Wikipedia and indigenous language preservation: analysis of Setswana and Punjabi languages

The survival of a language is important for several reasons, some of which are to maintain cultural identity, tradition and wisdom. Therefore, people always try to protect their cultural identity, tradition, and wisdom, thus preserving and promoting their languages. Similarly, indigenous languages, Setswana and Punjabi face challenges in preservation and promotion in this digital world, but their survival is important for preserving cultural identity and heritage. This study examines Wikipedia’s role in promoting and preserving Setswana and Punjabi. The research is framed by the Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory (EVT), which suggests that language survival lies in reclamation, revitalization, and reinvigoration. A quanti-qualitative approach is used to investigate the issue, integrating quantitative metrics from Wikipedia’s statistical pages with qualitative content analysis of the articles. Data were collected from May 2022 to May 2024, focusing on article counts, edits, active editors, new pages, top edited pages, and views. The study reveals significant disparities in content quality and community engagement between the Setswana and Punjabi Wikipedia editions. It highlights the challenges and opportunities of Wikipedia for enhancing the visibility and usage of indigenous languages. The findings show that Punjabi Wikipedia has a much larger content volume and user base, but comparatively lower recent activity and collaborative depth compared to Setswana Wikipedia. (Setswana) Tswana Wikipedia, while smaller in content volume, demonstrates a more engaged and active editing community, reflected by a higher depth score and a larger number of active users. This indicates a different stage of development and community involvement between the two language editions. Also, the study provides practical recommendations for Wikipedia contributors, language activists, and policymakers, suggesting that increased participation and strategic initiatives can significantly bolster the preservation efforts for these languages.

The copula sendá in the revitalization of Palenquero Creole

Abstract This study provides a first description of the distribution of the copular items of the Spanish-lexified Creole Palenquero (San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia). Notably, besides the descriptions of the occurrence of the oppositional couple ta/é (and its variants era and jue), the distribution of the third and most innovative copula sendá (< Sp. sentar(se) ‘to sit’) has not yet been clarified. This study reveals that the distribution of the copulas é/jue/era ~ sendá is stratified by age. Although sendá has been recorded in previous traditional corpora with low frequency of occurrence, this paper demonstrates that young Palenquero speakers nowadays regularly select the copula sendá in both attributive and identificational equative copular constructions. Elderly traditional speakers prefer using the copulas é, jue, and era in this context. The change in usage is particularly prevalent among second language users of Palenquero who acquired it as part of language revitalization activities.

IMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM REVITALISASI BAHASA DAERAH OLEH KANTOR BAHASA PROVINSI KALIMANTAN TIMUR

This study aims to determine the implementation of the Kenyah Language Revitalization Program by the East Kalimantan Provincial Language Office in Pampang Village, Samarinda City, and its inhibiting factors. This research uses a descriptive type with qualitative methods, with primary data sources through interviews with key informants of the Kenyah Language Revitalization Coordinator of the East Kalimantan Provincial Language Office. Secondary data sources include press release information, documents, and archives related to the revitalization program. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis used was an interactive model analysis developed by Miles, Huberman and Saldana. The implementation of the Kenyah Language revitalization program in Pampang Village was successfully carried out by the East Kalimantan Provincial Language Office as the implementor. This is evident from the six stages of the regional language revitalization program from the 17th episode of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum that have achieved their goals. Starting from the coordination meeting stage, group discussions, teacher training, transmission to the Provincial Mother Language Bud Festival were successfully realized in the revitalization of Kenyah language in Pampang Village. However, during the process it turned out that there were obstacles that caused each stage not to be maximized perfectly, namely: 1) not maximizing the implementation of Samarinda Mayor Regulation Number 15 of 2022 which does not have specific policy derivatives related to local content-based revitalization and 2) community-based revitalization modules that cannot be applied in Pampang Village schools due to the absence of local content of Kenyah Language in the school.

Research on the Contribution of The Chinese University Language Revitalization Project to Protecting Students' Cultural Identity: Impact, Motivation, and Challenges

In today's increasingly interconnected world, protecting students' cultural identity is an urgent issue, especially in regions like China with rich linguistic diversity. The Chinese University Language Revitalization Project has become a key initiative aimed at addressing the decline of indigenous languages and cultivating students' cultural pride. This study takes Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities as an example. Qiannan Normal University is a key university located in a multicultural area, and this project plays a crucial role in protecting the cultural identity of its diverse student population. However, the effectiveness of these measures in enhancing students' cultural identity and sense of belonging still needs to be explored, especially from the perspective of students themselves. This study addresses the significant issue of cultural identity erosion among higher education students, emphasizing the importance of language as a carrier of cultural expression and continuity. The decline of minority languages in academic environments not only threatens linguistic diversity, but also affects students' connection to their heritage and community consciousness. Understanding how language revitalization projects promote cultural identity protection is crucial for developing effective educational strategies that promote cultural sustainability. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the contribution of the Chinese Language Revitalization Project at Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, with a focus on its impact on students' cultural identity, motivational factors driving participation, and challenges faced during implementation. Through qualitative research methods, this study aims to gather in-depth insights from students and educators to elucidate the subtle ways in which language revitalization initiatives shape cultural identity and community relationships. This study is not only necessary to fill the existing literature gap on language revitalization and cultural identity, but also to enable policy makers and educators to understand the significance of these projects in higher education. By comprehensively understanding the role of the Language Revitalization Project at Qiannan Normal University, this study aims to provide practical recommendations to improve the effectiveness of similar initiatives across China and contribute to broader discussions on cultural protection in the context of globalization.

Okpameri Language: A Moribund Language

The Okpameri language, a minority language spoken in Nigeria, is gradually heading towards extinction due to sociolinguistic factors such as the dominance of languages like Yoruba and English. Language death is a slow process driven by the diminished use of a language across generations, often due to social, economic, and political pressures that force speakers to switch to more dominant languages. This study examines the stages of language death in Okpameri land, focusing on how language contact with English and Yoruba is contributing to the language's decline. The research utilizes a survey method, gathering data from 100 Okpameri multilinguals to analyze attitudes towards language loss and its impact on cultural identity. Findings indicate that Okpameri is in serious decline, with a significant portion of the population unable to speak the language fluently. There is widespread concern about its potential extinction, and most respondents believe that the dominance of other languages is detrimental to Okpameri's survival. The study underscores the urgency of language revitalization efforts, particularly through education and community engagement, to preserve Okpameri and its cultural significance.

Proyecto Guaná IA: innovación en la enseñanza de la lengua en riesgo

This research paper addresses the situation of the Guaná language in Paraguay, one of the indigenous peoples of the Maskoy linguistic family, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for its revitalization through artificial intelligence. Among the main justifications is that the Guaná language faces a serious threat of extinction, with only three elderly native speakers, which requires comprehensive measures for its preservation. The objective of the paper is to analyze the proposal for the integration of artificial intelligence in an educational curriculum for the revitalization of the Guaná language. The methodology was based on a literature review and comparative case studies of language revitalization in similar contexts. As for the results, effective strategies for language documentation and teaching were identified, including the use of digital tools and the creation of adaptive educational resources. The conclusion is that artificial intelligence, combined with culturally relevant educational approaches, can play a key role in language preservation, promoting its intergenerational use and transmission.

Fostering Linguistic Justice in Digital Spaces: Using Indigenous Methods in the Study of NLP

Data and data modeling practices in natural language processing (NLP) privilege languages with the greatest levels of representation online, leaving behind speakers of the overwhelming majority of the world's languages from enjoying the full benefits of digital inclusion. These dynamics have been explored in the context of historic colonial relationships, with linguists and language activists noting the colonizing discourses around the adoption of language-related technologies, and highlighting problematic research practices among linguists and computational linguists working in the area of digital corpus development for minoritized and Indigenous languages. Such power differentials raise questions about the source(s) and nature of language technology development bias in Global South contexts. To that end, this paper is divided into three parts. The first addresses the identification and roots of bias in NLP as it is currently understood, emphasizing the particular ways it is expressed in Global South contexts, and Latin America in particular. The second briefly discusses the theoretical frameworks of data colonialism and Indigenous data sovereignty as mechanisms to clarify how bias in NLP operates in these contexts. In the third section, Indigenous methods are proposed to investigate how these frameworks can help illuminate a research ethics around NLP for minoritized languages. Although there is an abundance of literature addressing ethics in NLP, no work to date has utilized an Indigenous methods framework to examine bias in the field, even as it relates specifically to Indigenous language data and technologies. This work argues that Indigenous methods can ultimately yield deeper insights into the concepts of bias and fairness in NLP, as well as the motivations and decisions employed in the development of language technologies, thereby serving as a more effective generator of equitable solutions while advancing theory development.

‘The school is really an English school, so, I guess you just speak English’: settler colonialism’s impact on te reo Māori use by young Māori men

ABSTRACT Globally, Indigenous languages face specific challenges to their revitalisation. In this article, I explore the ongoing barrier of settler colonialism to the revitalisation of te reo Māori (the Māori language). Through engaging in affective-discursive analysis of semi-structured interviews with twenty-two young Māori men, this article focuses on how young Māori take up or reject particular affective-discursive positions embedded in settler colonialism norms that discourage engaging with te reo Māori. I first explore how settler colonialism operates through the ‘choice’ to study (or not study) te reo Māori as an elective in English-medium schools. This analysis highlights how the ‘choice’ to not take the language is rooted settler colonial norms that frame te reo Māori negatively. Contexts that helped disrupt settler colonial attitudes about te reo Māori are then discussed. The roles of whānau (extended family), whānau-like collectives like kapa haka (Māori performing arts) groups, and conscientization are emphasised as formative to disrupting settler colonialism norms about te reo Māori. Lastly, I offer recommendations for te reo Māori language revitalisation, particularly as they relate to Māori youth.

From the kitchen to pop culture: The role of Mansi heritage speakers in language shift and language revitalisation

Abstract Mansi is a severely endangered minority language spoken mainly by the Mansi, an indigenous people of the Russian North. Traditionally the Mansi were living on fishing, hunting, gathering, and reindeer breeding, but as a result of industrialisation in the region, they gradually moved to urban types of settlements. Since the beginning of the 21st century the heritage language speakers became visible as a distinctive category beside the group of Mansi native speakers. The Mansi heritage language speakers have less proficiency in Mansi, but they are more active and creative in negotiating the position of their language and culture. As a result of the heritage language speakers’ activity, Mansi is not only the language of the kitchen small talks, but also became the language of the contemporary indigenous pop culture.

“Conquered Primitives Have No Written Language”: Language Revitalization, Reactionary Settler Colonialism, and Perpetual Genocide

Indigenous people in settler colonies such as Australia, the United States, and Canada are currently engaged in a range of projects to revitalize their languages: to reclaim and restore them in the wake of colonial destruction. Such language revitalization is frequently met with fierce backlash. This article examines the relationship between language revitalization backlash and genocide. I argue that language revitalization is part of broader efforts by Indigenous people to reconstitute themselves as distinct groups in reaction to colonial genocides. Backlash against language revitalization can therefore be seen as one element of ongoing efforts to prevent this, leading to a set of social and political relations I call perpetual genocide. I explore the dynamics of language revitalization backlash and perpetual genocide through an analysis of more than 600 social media comments collected from Australia over 2022 and 2023—the opening years of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages—and identify three key themes in these comments: civilizational racism, English and white supremacy, and linguistic diversity as a threat. Based on this analysis, I argue that this backlash, and the perpetual genocide of Indigenous peoples more broadly, is driven by a structural arrangement I call reactionary settler colonialism, which is led by a right-wing vanguard but involves all settlers as implicated subjects. I conclude by discussing counter-genocidal praxis in relation to this formation.

The Impact of Language Revitalization Efforts on Indigenous Cultural Practices: A Case Study of the Tahltan, Cherokee, and Lakota Nations

Historically (and currently) Indigenous languages have been suppressed and marginalized within society, inspiring declining levels of language usage and L1 and L2 speakers. It can be argued that these declining levels of speakership have impacted the tangible and intangible elements of Indigenous cultural practices. Although Indigenous peoples have faced punishment for using their languages, the reclamation or revitalization of Indigenous languages can lead to the recovery of cultural knowledge and, in the process, help heal the trauma caused by colonization. This article seeks to address the impact language revitalization efforts can have on maintaining the cultural practices of Indigenous communities by examining three case studies of ongoing revitalization efforts: the Tahltan Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and the Lakota Nation. Moreover, a theoretical analysis will be conducted following the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis of linguistic relativity and linguistic determinism. A review of these practical and theoretical examples demonstrates that the language we speak can shape our thinking patterns as well as how we are predisposed to view the world.

ANI-ANISHINAABEWAADIZING (Becoming Indigenous): Healing from Sustained Cultural Genocide and Linguicide through Ojibwe Language World View

Intergenerational transmission of culture and language across Native American communities in the United States has been obstructed by more than 520 years of sustained cultural genocide and attempts of linguicide which, in turn, inflicted intergenerational trauma that still impacts Native American communities today. This article intentionally bridges understandings of language revitalization efforts in a North American Ojibwe community employing Indigenous research methods. The community efforts are reflected upon by an Ojibwe Elder and longtime language teacher, which is then responded to by two colleagues and friends of the Elder who come from a Western perspective. This “two-eyed” approach illustrates the importance of Indigenization in education and communities as a process of truth, reconciliation, and healing after genocide. Once the historical context is given, the Elder's reflections of language revitalization are understood through mapping the Medicine Wheel and as having mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical impacts. Further, the work of the community to reclaim and recenter the schools and community to the Ojibwe worldview is viewed as weaving together the Seven Grandfather Teachings of Love, Respect, Honesty, Truth, Wisdom, Humility, and Bravery as acts of resistance to continued actions of the dominant US culture that degrade and dishonor Native American nations and communities.

Mapuche Worldview, Territory, and Language: Narratives of Mapuche Speakers and Elders

This article addresses the relationship between worldview, territory, and language among the Mapuche people. Our research aims to explore, through the voices of Mapuche elders, the sociocultural, political, and territorial knowledge that guides the teaching and transmission of Mapuzugun to new generations. In alignment with the proposed objective, we have adopted a socio-critical approach to explore Mapuche identity through the territorial and communal dimensions that underpin linguistic revitalization. The findings reveal that the elders possess a vast source of knowledge, serving as primary cultural bearers through epistemology centered on the unity of language and territory.

Языковая лояльность, языковые идеологии, установки и практики в общинах горских ев‑ реев московского региона

The author conducted a sociolinguistic survey among the Moun‑ tain Jewish diaspora in the Moscow region using in-depth semi-struc‑ tured interviews. The purpose of the survey was to determine the func‑ tioning and viability of the Juhuri language in the diaspora for the purpose of better understanding what measures need to be taken to preserve the language. Survey questions concerned the language bi‑ ographies of respondents and their ancestors, the current use of vari‑ ous languages across domains and functions, and especially the re‑ spondents’ loyalty to their heritage language. 100 % of respondents from both diaspora generations, regardless of their age and level of proficiency in the Juhuri language, highly value their language and want it to be passed on to future generations. However, a high level of linguistic loyalty in the community is not by itself a sufficient condition for language revitalization; language ideologies and attitudes aimed at preserving the language are also needed to achieve success. The sociolinguistic survey revealed the prevailing “avoidance strate‑ gies” in the Juhuri community: the failure to see a connection between language use and transmission, the shifting of responsibility for pre‑ serving one’s language and culture to others without any personal ef‑ fort and personal involvement, etc. The survey exposed this problem and outlined ways to solve it. Now it is necessary to begin the painstaking work of changing the community’s mentality so as to achieve Positive Attitudes towards Multilingualism, without which language revitalization is impossible.

Language Preservation: Strategies for Indigenous Languages

Indigenous languages are critical to cultural identity, carrying unique worldviews, knowledge systems, and histories. However, these languages are rapidly disappearing due to factors like globalization, urbanization, and intergenerational transmission gaps. This paper discusses strategies for the preservation and revitalization of indigenous languages, emphasizing the importance of community involvement, educational initiatives, and the use of digital tools. By exploring successful language preservation models from Indigenous communities worldwide, the paper highlights how bottom-up approaches, immersive language programs, and technological innovations can support revitalization. Collaboration between communities, government bodies, and non-governmental organizations is essential to creating sustainable methods for language survival and adaptability in the modern world. Ultimately, preserving indigenous languages not only maintains cultural diversity but also reinforces social and psychological identity for present and future generations. Keywords: Indigenous language preservation, language revitalization, cultural identity, community-based programs, digital tools in language preservation.

Активизация пассивных знаний кильдинского саамского языка с помощью метода «мастер-уче‑ ник» и обучения грамматике и письменному языку

This article offers a short overview of the current Kildin Saami lan‑ guage situation, paying particular attention to the resolving of the longstanding conflict about the written language in 2017, an important pre‑ requisite for further Kildin Saami language revitalisation work. The main part of the article focuses on ongoing Kildin Saami language re‑ vitalisation measures in the village of Lovozero in the Murmansk re‑ gion of Russia. By means of a special training program, consisting of (1) the Master-Apprentice Language Learning Method and (2) instruc‑ tion in Kildin Saami grammar and orthography, both adult speakers with passive Kildin Saami language knowledge and speakers who ac‑ tively use Kildin Saami in everyday life are offered an opportunity to activate, develop and improve their knowledge of their native lan‑ guage. The program aims to increase the number of active Kildin Saa‑ mi speakers, stimulate its transmission to new speakers, improve the quality of Kildin Saami language teaching, and promote a more com‑ petent approach to producing Kildin Saami textbooks and literature. Furthermore, the article discusses the actual conditions under which the training takes place as well as some challenging factors that force us to reconsider the goals and expected results of the teaching. It also proposes possible approaches to solving some of these problems when conducting similar training events in the future.

Mapping for Reconnection

Indigenous place names contain knowledge of the landscape and encode unique perceptions of landscapes with which Indigenous Peoples have interacted for hundreds, often thousands, of years. However, many Indigenous place names have been lost as a result of colonization. Furthermore, many of these have been replaced with colonial place names, and their loss contributes to overall language attrition. In turn, the loss of language makes it difficult, or even impossible, to understand the concepts embedded within Indigenous place names that do remain in use. The documentation and conservation of place names is thus an important aspect of Indigenous language preservation and revitalization that can help facilitate reconnection with the language and the land. This paper outlines the Atlas of Kanyen'kehá:ka Space digital atlas project, an initiative that uses digital mapping to aid in the documentation and revitalization of the Kanyen'kéha (Mohawk) language through community participatory mapping of Kanyen'kéha place names and landscape-related language. It describes the initial stages of the Atlas of Kanyen'kehá:ka Space project, including its theoretical framework, the O'nonna model, and its community-based participatory methodology for digital mapping. It reports on a series of mapping workshops within three Kanyen'kehá:ka communities and shares initial findings and future directions for the project.

Decolonizing the Library: Considering the Movement in the Irish Colonial Contexts

Abstract Decolonization is a concept which has been rapidly gaining traction in the library community, particularly in England, the United States, and Australia. This article addresses the question: “what does decolonizing the library look like in the Irish colonial contexts?” The role which libraries play in reckoning with colonial pasts cannot be understated. This paper will explore what decolonization can look like through Irish libraries both north and south of the border. This will be examined through Irish language revitalization, the presence of oral histories in library collections, and how libraries respond to underserved communities. This study also establishes areas for further research in this nascent field as well as outlining practical steps to implement the concept of decolonizing the library in the Irish contexts. Drawing on qualitative data pulled from interviews this paper will offer the latest information on the Irish library landscape and its relation to the broader decolonization movement. This paper aims to demonstrate the value of using the decolonization framework to address the colonial past which has impacted the way in which the information services function in modern day Ireland and pave the way towards an inclusive and equitable future.