Language Endangerment

Investigates the endangerment of languages and the loss of traditional cultural diversity, and how to respond.

David Bradley (Author), Maya Bradley (Author)

9781107641709, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 November 2019

236 pages, 23 tables
21.5 x 13.9 x 1.7 cm, 0.38 kg

'Both the formal features and the contents of this volume make it suitable and of potential interest for a diverse target audience, ranging from non-expert readers to researchers that may wish to obtain an up-to-date state of the issue.' Marc Gandarillas, Language in Society

Up to ninety percent of humanity's traditional languages and cultures are at risk and may disappear this century. While language endangerment has not achieved the publicity surrounding environmental change and biodiversity loss, it is just as serious, disastrously reducing the variety of human knowledge and thought. This book shows why it matters, why and how it happens, and what communities and scholars can do about it. David and Maya Bradley provide a new framework for investigating and documenting linguistic, social and other factors which contribute to languages shifting away from their cultural heritage. Illustrated with practical in-depth case studies and examples from the authors' own work in Asia and elsewhere, the book encourages communities to maintain or reclaim their traditional languages and cultures.

1. Introduction
2. Stages of language endangerment
3. Working in a community
4. Identity and attitudes
5. Language knowledge and use
6. The sociolinguistic setting
7. Linguistic processes
8. Policy and planning
9. Language reclamation
10. Methodology
11. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Sociology & anthropology [JH], Sociolinguistics [CFB], Linguistics [CF]