Uncovering Blackfoot Language Loss

For many years Indigenous languages have been the focus of in-depth linguistic studies. With greater significance being placed on revitalization efforts these studies are more important than ever. This paper discusses the Blackfoot language in its cultural-historical roots, grammatical foundations and current revitalization status. The goal of this paper is to present the Blackfoot language as an encompassment of the language and the people who speak it.

Tara Dunlap

The Revival of the Welsh Language: A Success Story

For the most part of the twentieth century, the Welsh language has been rapidly disappearing. Since the introduction of the Welsh Language Act in 1967 and the implementation of the Welsh Language Board in 1993, the decline in number of speakers has been halted. In 2001, the number of Welsh speakers was found to have increased for the first time in over a century. Much credit is being given to the efforts of the Welsh Language Board, whose mission is to promote and facilitate usage of the Welsh language and uphold the Welsh Language Act. Efforts that have been successful include focusing on teaching young people Welsh, promoting positive social attitudes toward billingualism, encouraging use in all public and private sectors, and offering support and resources to the community

Meghan Easley

The Endangered Languages Problem: Quechua

Although Quechua has approximately 10 million speakers, it is considered an endangered language because of the dominance of the Spanish language. Quechua has struggled to gain a favorable status since the Spanish conquest and it continues to face social, economic, and political inferiority. The purpose of this paper is to explain the reason for the language endangerment, to show the impacts of the Spanish language, and to address the current efforts being made to preserve the indigenous language.

Eileen Flannigan

Reversing Language Shift: An Overview of the Tibetan Language

Chinese officials and Chinese news media often portray Tibetans as moving forwards into a modern and prosperous future. Many Tibetans question what the future of their culture will really be like. The essay, Holding on to History: An Overview of the Tibetan Language Situation, provides an in-depth discussion in the past, present, and future situation of the Tibetan language. In addition, it presents an interesting dialogue on why it is important that Tibetans continue speaking Tibetan, what has caused a decline in the number of speakers, as well as what efforts have been or could be made to improve the Tibetan language circumstance.

Becky Greene

Coeur d'Alene: The Revitalization Efforts of a Disappearing Language

This paper focuses the efforts of the Coeur d'Alene community in trying to revitalize their moribund language. I will examine the different influences on the language and culture, the previous and current attempts in language maintenance. I will also provide a brief grammatical sketch of the language in order to emphasize the difficulties in acquiring the language. There is also an analysis of the data provided at the end of the paper.

Adam Mastandrea

Hebrew language revitalization: A case study

This paper provides a historical background of Hebrew language loss and subsequent revitalization efforts undertaken at the beginning of the twentieth century. It also addresses how the Hebrew revitalization movement was transformed into a successful language policy. Implications for the revitalization of other minority languages are also discussed.

Dan McCloy

"Saving Limbu": - Reversing Language Shift in Nepal

This paper provides an overview of the Limbu language of Nepal, with particular focus on the issues of Reversing Language Shift (RLS). It reviews Webster's (1999) assessment of RLS activities in Limbu. It also includes an overview of the language status and situation, and a brief linguistic sketch of the language itself. Linguistic observations include comments on the so-called "voiced aspirated" series of stops, and on the "inclusive person" category of Limbu.

Chris Trombly

Kurds and Forced Assimilation in Turkey

The Turkish/Kurdish conflict dates back 200 years. Turks, through forced assimilation, required Kurds speak Turkish. Many Turks believe the survival of Turkey as a Republic is contingent on nationalism and the non-dissent of ethnic groups. However, Kurds felt otherwise and the conflict resulted in a war, in 1983, that lasted into the turn of the century. Now, both Kurds and Turks want peace, which has given the Kurds their linguistic and cultural freedoms, but only to a certain extent.