#endangeredlanguageschallenge

[linguisten]

First round: August 5 though 11, 2019

The purpose of the Endangered Languages Challenge is to raise awareness of endangered / moribund or recently extinct languages.  

The challenge for the lingblr and langblr community is to learn and write about the languages not about their vocabulary or some interesting grammatical features. 

Rules: 

No exotification.  We wouldn't want this to drift off into something like "this language is worth saving because it does X".  

Stick to sociolinguistics. Typology and phonology are for the Linguistic Diversity Challenges.

Frequency. Post at least once a day for at least six of the seven days of the challenge. 

Diversity. Try to post on languages from different families and geographical areas. Avoid eurocentrism. 

Visibility. Please use the following two tags: #endangered-languages and #endangeredlanguageschallenge

Some guiding questions:

name(s) of the language  What is/are the language’s name(s) for itself, the name(s) used in linguistic literature, the English name(s)?

genealogical affiliation  Which linguistic family does the language belong to? Notable relatives? 

location of the language Where is it spoken? Is there a diaspora community? What are its neighboring languages? 

number of speakers  how many speakers (native, L1)  are there? how is the prognosis for future transmission to the next generation(s)?

endangerment situation  Why is the language endangered? Who and what caused the language and speaker community to be marginalized or suppressed? When and why did people stop teaching it to their children? Which domains has the language been removed from? Which factors mitigate or aggravate the language’s situation nowadays? Are there media or publications in the language? 

speaker community How did the speech community react to the threat and marginalization  politically, artistically, socially, economically, etc.?  Are there maintenance / revitalization efforts?

language breakdown Is the language still fully functional or does it show signs of structural collapse? 

official / legal status Does the language have any kind of recognition, as official or minority language? Is it taught in primary to tertiary education? Is it legal to speak the language in its home country? When or where may the language (not) freely be spoken? 

documentation status  Is there a (sketch) grammar? A dictionary? Teaching materials? A (multimodal) corpus? Were or are there documentation efforts?

Possible ressources

http://www.language-archives.org/

http://www.unesco.org/languages-atlas/

https://glottolog.org/

http://www.glottopedia.org/index.php/Most_widely_spoken_languages

http://www.olestig.dk/endangered-languages/films.html

https://www.dnathan.com/VL/

https://aiatsis.gov.au/

http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/

https://www.ogmios.org/

http://www.endangeredlanguagefund.org/

http://gbs.uni-koeln.de/wordpress/

http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/saoghal/mion-chanain/en/

https://www.yourdictionary.com/elr/index.html

https://linguistlist.org/issues/16/16-2815.html

https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/4478/hammarstrom.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/project/endangered-languages-2

[kephas-rolling]

Endangered Languages Challenge : The Carib Language

  Language’s names

Carib has a variety of names because it is spoken in regions and countries that all have different languages. Carib is also know as Kari'nja,  Caribe, Cariña, Galibi, Kali'na, Kalihna, Kalinya, maraworno or marworno. However, the speakers refer to their language as Karìna auran [kaɽiɁnʲauɽaŋ].

Language family

Carib belongs to the Cariban family, and specifically to the Guianan Carib sub-branch. Close relatives are Makiritare, Taranoan and Wayana. This classification is based on the 2012 work of Gildea.

Geographical location

Like most Cariban languages, Carib is spoken in the northern-most regions of South America; specifically in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana and Brazil. They are mostly found in coastal regions and around rivers.

Number of speakers

Because the speakers are split between distant communities in different countries, accurate and recent data is a bit hard to find. Numbers I have found estimate that there are between 7,430 and 8,558 speakers in total, out of a total of between 11,200 ethnic population and 17,000.  The Endangered Languages Project have the following numbers: ~8,600 native speakers for an ethnic population of 23752. Based on these estimations, the native speakers population amongst the ethnic population ranges from 36%, to 50% or 66%. Accurate numbers are hard to find but if any of these numbers are true, the situation looks bleak.

These estimations are based on censuses from the mid to late 00′s. The language still has quite a few users but inter-generational transmission seems to a real problem for the future, as all adults speak Carib but not everyone amongst the youngest community members. The language is mainly spoken at home. For instance, Léglise et Migge report that in their interviews conducted in Suriname 3% of the children they talked to had Carib as an L4 (In and Out of Suriname Language, Mobility and Identity 2015).

               Kali'na man in Paris in 1892 holding a putu, or wooden club

Endangerment situation

Carib is ranked as 6b in the Endangerment Scale meaning that the language is bleeding speakers. As Hendrik Courtz puts it in his 2008 thesis;

The Carib language has The Carib language is being replaced by other languages (Spanish in Venezuela, English or Creole English in Guyana, Dutch or Surinamese in Suriname, French or Creole French in French Guiana, and Portuguese in Brazil). Even in villages where Carib is the language of daily conversation, command of the language is deteriorating because the national languages are used at school and many young people move to non-Carib towns and cities for further education and continue to live there for quite some time or even the rest of their lives. As they have become used to interacting with people who don’t speak Carib, many Caribs speak two or three languages.

The UNESCO classified Carib as highly endangered in 2003.

Conservation and protection endeavours

The language has been documented since the 17th century with the creation of dictionaries. However, due to dialectal differences and differences in spelling norms (because of majority languages like Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese or English), Carib is mostly an oral language. There are many endeavours trying to preserve the lexis and grammar in dictionaries of the language but I’m not aware of native efforts to preserve Carib.

           Kalina schoolchildren from Bigi Poika, Suriname, 2002

Language Breakdown

Fortunately, no linguists have reported any structural collapse or dysfunctionality in the language. There seems to have been significant borrowings from national majority languages but the language is still vigorous in this regard.

Official status

As it can be expected, the language was not given any official status in any of the countries where it is currently spoken. The endangered status of Carib being a natural by-product of political inaction with regard to language diversity.

Documentation status

 As I mentioned above, documentation efforts for Carib date back to 17th century and fortunately these efforts haven’t stopped. There are dozens of books, dictionaries and other resources documenting Carib’s lexicon, syntax and phonology. 

Readings and resources:

OLAC resources in and about the Galibi Carib language

Ethnologue page

A Carib grammar and dictionary  (2008, Hendrik Courtz)

In and Out of Suriname Language, Mobility and Identity (2015, Eithne B. et alli) 

Carib Wikipedia page

[perkeleet-perseessasi]

Endangered Languages Challenge, 2/7, Manchu

Names of the language:

The language is called ᠮᠠᠨᠵᡠ ᡤᡳᠰᡠᠨ (Manchu Gisun, it should be vertically written)  in the language itself, 清文 or  清語 in Chinese, and Manchu in English.

Genealogical affiliation:

Manchu is a Tungusic language of the southern Manchu branch, and it is closest relation is the Jurchen language. There are also many loanwords from Mandarin and Mongolian. Location of the language:

Manchu is still spoken in the historical region of Manchuria, and was the native language of the the Manchus and one of the official languages of the Qing dynasty.  Number of speakers: Although there are 10 million ethnic Manchus in China, there are only 10 native speakers of Manchu left. A 2007 census counted 18 octogenarian residents, but it has of course unfortunately decreased since then. However, thanks to free courses offered for adults by the government, there are also a few thousand L2 speakers.  Endangerment situation:

Manchu is considered critically endangered by UNESCO. The EGIDS level of Manchu is 8b (nearly extinct).  Throughout the 20th century, the PRC state forbid expressions of non-han ethnic cultures in an effort to completely sinicize the country, and that ban held in place until the death of Mao Zedong.  Manchu is still thought of as a foreign language in a Mandarin-speaking country, and many ethnic Manchu choose to learn languages like Mongolian instead. Official/legal status:

Manchu does not hold any official status, but is recognised as an indigenous language.   Documentation status:

Manchu is an incredibly important language for historians studying the Qing dynasty. Texts written in Manchu provide information not available in Chinese texts, and when Chinese contemporary texts have Manchu translations, the Manchu version often aids understanding of the Chinese. The PRC state is supporting revitalisation efforts (somewhat surprisingly) by offering free classes for adults and funding . Manchu associations can be found across the country, including in Taiwan and Hong Kong, to serve as a go-between for Manchu people and the state. 

Sources Wikipedia Ethnologue More wikipedia Omniglot That one youtube channel and also they use the wrong flag

[siancore]

Endangered Languages Challenge : Paakantyi Palku

Name: Paakantyi also Barkindji; Barkandji; Paakantji; Baagandji

Genealogical Affiliation: Pama-Nyungan

Location: Far-West New South Wales, Australia (bordering on South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland). Namely Bourke; Wilcannia; Menindee; Wentworth; Broken Hill; Pooncarie

Number of Speakers: Low to mid-twenties recorded on Australian Bureau of Statistics census. More in remote communities.

Why is the language endangered? Step 2 of Process of Colonisation as outlined by Prof Virgilio Enriques: Destruction/Eradication. There is a direct link between colonisation, assimilation, and cultural genocide and the decline in native speakers of Paakantyi and its dialects.

Speaker Community: The most widespread dialect is Southern Paakantyi, the language of Pooncarie and Wilcannia. Most speakers are on either side of the Makwarra-Kilpara moiety kinship system.

There are maintenance and revitalisation efforts across all locations, most notably in Menindee, Wilcannia, Bourke, Wentworth, and Mildura. These are led by Paakantyi Elders and educators, and operate in schools, TAFE, and community groups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6aKm7WU4nM

Documentation: There are grammars; dictionaries; teaching and learning resources; and literature in Paakantyi Palku.

*Artwork by Uncle Badger Bates

Resources available from:

AIATSIS

Barkandji-Maraura Elders Environment Team

Maari-ma Health

Menindee Central School

Paakantyi Dictionary - Luise Hercus

Paakantyi Language Circle

University of Melbourne - Research Unit for Indigenous Language

Wilcannia Central School

Photo References:

NSW Department of Education & Training

Hope, Jeanette; Lindsay, Robert (2010). The People of the Paroo River: Frederick Bonney's Photographs (PDF). Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, NSW. pp. 207–222.

[phonaesthemes]

Łingít

Endangered Languages Challenge 1/7

Picture source

What’s the language called?

Tlingit, Łingít. Although the name is spelled “Tlingit” in English it is actually pronounced [ˈklɪŋ.kɪt], i.e. “Klinkit”.

What linguistic family does it belong to?

It’s a Na-Dene language, related to Eyak and Athabaskan languages.

Where is it spoken?

In Alaska,  it’s distributed from the mouth of the Copper River down the coast of the Gulf of Alaska, and throughout the Alexander Archipelago. There are an estimated 500 speakers there.

In Canada, Tlingit is spoken mostly in Atlin in northernmost British Columbia and Teslin in adjacent Yukon. There are a about 255 people self-identified as Tlingit speakers there.

What’s the prognosis for future transmission of the language?

Most of the remaining speakers are elderly. Speakers were stigmatized and punished for using their language for a very long time, which was a major obstacle to transmission. However, there are efforts being made to revitalize the language and create new, young speakers. 

About the speaker community:

In researching the language, a recurring sentiment seems to be that the language is extremely difficult to learn for English-speakers, which can be very discouraging to a lot of potential speakers. However, there are still very determined members of the community who are tackling the challenge.

 There have been language summits held to bring together community members (who are spread across several different regions) to formalize revitalization efforts, and some of the geographic communities have declared Tlingit an official language. 

Does it have any official or legal status?

Short answer: It depends on where it’s spoken. 

As noted above, some of the individual speaker communities have declared Tlingit an official language, but the support and protection from provincial and federal authorities in Canada is lacking. Money has been allocated for revitalization efforts for indigenous languages in British Columbia overall, but it must be divided by a number of different communities, and doesn’t go very far. 

In Alaska, Tlingit (along with other languages) has been declared official by the state, but the gesture was (at the time) largely symbolic. The state has since declared that there’s a “linguistic emergency”, and the governor signed an administrative order calling for increased preservation and revitalization of indigenous languages.

Sources and resources for this post: Alaska Native Languages Center Omniglot: Tlingit Language Map of British Columbia Tlingit - The Canadian Encyclopedia Tlingit - Glottolog  Tlingit - Wikipedia 'Profound gathering' aims to fuel revival of Tlingit language Budget's Indigenous languages funding 'insufficient' to support revitalization work, says B.C. advocate Preserving the Arctic’s indigenous languages will require all of us to work together

[helleniclanguageboy]

Endangered Language Challenge - Cypriot Arabic

Name(s) of the language?

The speakers call their language Σάννα (Sanna). However, it is also known as Cypriot Arabic (English), Κυπριακά αραβικά (Greek), and  (Turkish).

What is it’s genealogical classification?

Sanna belongs to the Levantine grouping of the Arabic language. Arabic itself is derived from the Central Semitic branch of the Semitic languages, and that is derived from the Afro-Asiatic language family. 

Sanna is sometimes considered a separate language from Arabic, but it is primarily regarded as a highly divergent dialect of Arabic, similar to the status of Maltese. 

Location of the language?

Sanna is spoken in several villages of Cyprus, primarily in the North. It was mainly spoken in Kormakitis (Kurmajit/Κυρμαζ̲ιτ) but after the invasion of Northern Cyprus, the speakers fled or slowly lost their language. 

Number of speakers?

The native speakers of Sanna are the Cypriot Maronites, Eastern Catholics whos ancestors came from Lebanon. 

Around 140 native speakers in Northern Cyprus in 2013, but in the south, no one claimed to be a native speaker. The speakers tend to be older, but there is a school in Kormakitis that teaches Sanna. 

There were 3,656 speakers in a 2011 census. 

The endangerment situation

As aforementioned, the speakers are ageing, and languages like Greek, Turkish, and English are more favoured due to their use on the island. 

Speech community

The speakers are working to get representation in Cyprus, and there is a school program to teach it to the children. 

Official and/or legal status

The language is a recognized minority language, but it is not an official language of the country. 

Documentation status

Books are being translated into the language, there is a bilingual, Sanna and Greek, dictionary, and there are grammars of the language.

Sorry its not the best addition, but I’ll get better with time! Also, if there’s anything I got wrong or missed, please let me know!

[practicingtheliberalarts]

Endangered Langauges Challenge: Catawba

ALSO KNOWN AS: Catawaba

CLASSIFICATION: Siouan, Catawban

CODE AUTHORITY: ISO 639-3

LANGUAGE CODE: chc

LOCATION: Catawba Nation of York County, South Carolina, USA

LANGUAGE STATUS: 9 (Reawakening). Language of registered tribe: Catawba Indian Nation (Catawba Tribe of South Carolina).

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: Dictionary. Catawba Nation’s Cultural Preservation Program is engaged in a language revitalization effort (Golla 2007).

This graph shows the place of Catawba within the cloud of all living languages. Each language in the world is represented by a small dot that is placed on the grid in relation to its user population (in the vertical axis) and its level of development or endangerment (in the horizontal axis), with the largest and strongest languages in the upper left and the smallest and weakest languages (down to extinction) in the lower right. The population value is the estimated number of all users (including both first and second language speakers); it is plotted on a logarithmic scale (where 100 = 1; 102 = 100; 104 = 10,000; 106 = 1,000,000; 108 = 100,000,000). The value for the development versus endangerment dimension is the estimated level on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.)

Catawba is represented by a large, colored dot. When the population is unknown, a color-coded question mark appears at the bottom of the grid. When there are no known users, an X appears at the bottom of the grid. The color coding matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:

Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.

How do you pronounce the word "Catawba"? What does it mean?Catawba is pronounced "cuh-TAW-buh," and it comes from the Catawba placename Katapu, which means "fork in a river." Among themselves, the Catawba usually called themselves Ye Iswa, which means "river people."  Where do the Catawbas live?The Catawbas are original residents of North and South Carolina. Most Catawba people still live in South Carolina today, although others were forced to move to Oklahoma along with the Cherokees in the 1800's.  How is the Catawba Indian nation organized? The Catawba tribe has a reservation, which is land that belongs to them and is legally under their control. The Catawbas have their own government, laws, police, and other services, just like a small country. However, the Catawbas are also US citizens and must obey American law. In the past, the Catawba tribe was ruled by a chief from a leading clan. Today, the Catawbas are governed by a tribal council whose members are elected. What language do the Catawbas speak? The Catawba people speak English today. In the past, they spoke their native Catawba language. Unfortunately, no Catawba Indian people are fluent in this language anymore. However, some Catawbas are working to learn to speak their language again. If you'd like to know an easy Catawba word, hawoh (pronounced hah-woh) means 'thank you.' You can also read this picture glossary of Catawba Indian words. What was Catawba culture like in the past? What is it like now? Here is a link to the home page of the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project, where you can learn about the Catawba Indians past and present. 

[linguisten]

Endangered Languages Challenge - Master list 1

Thank you for everyone who participated, especially the authors!

I am delighted to see that so many of you liked and reblogged the entries. 

Here’s a list of all the contributions I am currently aware of: 

by @turtleisland-languages

Oneida

by @dystonia-linguist

Mansi

Mising

by @helleniclanguageboy

Cypriot Arabic

Cypriot Arabic - Sanna

by @languageoficeandfire

Carib

Aleut

by @perkeleet-paassani

Chuvash

Manchu

Komo

by @siancore

Paakantyi Palku

Ngiyampaa

Gamilaraay

by @practicingtheliberalarts

Catawba 1

Catawba 2

Catawba 3

Catawba 4

Catawba 5

Catawba 6

by @phonaesthemes

Łingít

Udi

Malecite & Mi’kmaq

Canadian Gaelic

Tłıchǫ Yatıì

Tiéfo

by @injerabae

Ongota

Kujargé

Argobba

Sirzakwai

Láàl

Aasáx

by @languagesandshootingstars

Ainu

Livonian

Yukaghir

Yeyi

Chipewyan

Tehuelche

Palawa Kani

by @linguisten

Dyirbal

Resígaro

Livonian

Yurok

Uma’ Lung

Takuu

Yaghan