Language Maintenance and Shift
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Transcript Language Maintenance and Shift
LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE &
SHIFT
LANGUAGE & SOCIETY
WHEN ONE LANGUAGE MEETS THE OTHER
Language
maintenance
Language shift
LANGUAGE SHIFT
Migrant
minorities
SCENARIOS
Non-migrant
communities
Migrant
majorities
Migrant minorities
Immigrant
minority
Local
majority
Migrant minorities
• Language shift is
expected
• A sign of
successful
assimilation
Pressure
from the host
society
Language shift for
practical reasons
• Job
• Education
• Business
The language shift of 2nd-generation immigrants
If you don’t want to be part of us…
Debate Rages On Over 'English Only' Policies
Migrant majority
Local
minority
Immigrant
majority
Migrant majority
Colonization
The colonial powers impose their languages
on the colonies.
Colonization
More Population
Immigrants
Local
population
Colonization
The Dominant Culture
Immigrants
Local population
Case: The Isle of Man
The official language of the Isle of Man is
English, while Manx Gaelic has also had official
status since 1985. Manx has traditionally been
spoken but is now considered "critically
endangered".
Manx has been officially recognised as a
legitimate regional language.
Manx is closely related to the Irish
language and Scottish Gaelic.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man#Language)
Case: The Isle of Man
Why is there a
language shift on
the island?
Factors contributing to language shift
Economic, social, and political factors
Job opportunities
See no reason to maintain L1
Migrant majority
Language shift
does not
necessarily occur
when
multilingualism is
widespread.
many indigenous
vernacular
languages
Language shift
could occur
When one
primary
indigenous
language is used
Non-migrant communities
Language shift due to political, economical
and social changes
LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE
Demographic factors
Where people live
Rural areas vs. urban areas.
The size of the group
Spanish in the US.
Chinatowns.
Attitudes and values
Positive attitude slows down the language
shift.
A symbol of ethnic identity
The father in ‘My Fat Greek Wedding’ explaining
the root of any word is Greek.
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=2ALrm3nDGXI
An internationally recognized language
slows down the speed of shift
French-Quebec
LANGUAGE DEATH & LOSS
Language death and loss
When all people of a language die, the
language dies too.
Endangered languages
Why is it an issue?
A language carries the cultural heritage of its
speakers.
Examples
'Language Death: A Problem for All' By
David Crystal
http://vimeo.com/6677955/
How a minority language can be
maintained
It is a symbol of group identity.
The degree and frequency of contact with
the the home group.
Social factor may help.
Extended family vs. nuclear family
Institutional support
Domains: education, law, religion,
government, media
Ethnolinguistic vitality
We can predict the likelihood that a
language will be maintained by measuring
its ethnolinguistic vitality.
Components
The status of the language
The size of the group
The extent of institutional support
Language revival
Attitude
How strongly the speakers want to revive the
language
Their reasons for doing so
Six factors which may help a language to progress
(Crystal, 2000)
An endangered language will progress if its speakers:
increase their prestige within the dominant community
increase their wealth
increase their legitimate power in the eyes of the
dominant community
have a strong presence in the education system
can write down the language
can make use of electronic technology
Examples of language revival
Puyuma Language Revival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHh_P72_fxA
Bunun Language Revival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZklCYG2LNwA
Hebrew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCzEVczcZbQ
Ocitan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5IxLW39D7s
Maori
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG2Abfglzq4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbE53FKUV5g