Language Dominance and Death Flashcards
how many languages do you think there are in the world?
6000+
how many languages are currently under threat?
Around ninety percent of the worlds language will be extinct in the next century.
what does the death (gradual or sudden) of a language mean for the culture of its users?
The culture also diminishes alongside the death of the language.
which languages are most taught to children the world?
English
how can language be imperialistic?
They can impose their language at the administration and educational level, Term was invented by Robert Phillipson.
are English language teachers promoters of ‘linguistic imperialism’ or do they give learners access to an enabling language in a globalized world?
Yes, because teachers educate children by reinforcing the English language in the classroom.
Does the global spread of English really threaten local languages, cultures and identities?
Yes, because the death of a certain language also ensures the death of the local culture.
Is the dominance of English online a threat?
No
- websites can be translated into different languages on the internet
- easy access
but also Yes
What is Language death?
Language death is a process in which the level of a speech community’s linguistic competence in their language variety decreases, eventually resulting in no speakers.
Examples of language death
The extinction of Cornish in England is an example of language death as well as shift (to English).
what is language revitalization?
the effort by government agencies to ensure a language is spoken by a new generation of children who will take the language forward (adults are also encouraged to learn the endangered language)
what other things are lost when language dies
give an example of language revitalization
What are the five levels of language endangerment as identified by UNESCO?
vulnerable, definitely endangered, severely endangered, critically endangered, and extinct
what are the benefits of being multilingual ?
