Revitalizing Endangered Languages
A Practical Guide

Written by leading international scholars and activists, this guidebook provides ideas and strategies to support language revitalization.

Justyna Olko (Edited by), Julia Sallabank (Edited by)

9781108724500, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 August 2023

350 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.52 kg

'The breadth and range of topics in this volume are outstanding. In a manner accessible to non-experts, each capsule raises insightful and highly relevant questions about the practical issues encountered in language revitalisation. Each section is packed with useful advice, with a strong focus on practical considerations and the sharing of good practice. … The insightful questions, helpful ideas and practical examples make this volume absolutely essential to anyone who wishes to become involved in revitalising an endangered language.' Marco Tamburelli, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development

Of the approximately 7,000 languages in the world, at least half may no longer be spoken by the end of the twenty-first century. Languages are endangered by a number of factors, including globalization, education policies, and the political, economic and cultural marginalization of minority groups. This guidebook provides ideas and strategies, as well as some background, to help with the effective revitalization of endangered languages. It covers a broad scope of themes including effective planning, benefits, wellbeing, economic aspects, attitudes and ideologies. The chapter authors have hands-on experience of language revitalization in many countries around the world, and each chapter includes a wealth of examples, such as case studies from specific languages and language areas. Clearly and accessibly written, it is suitable for non-specialists as well as academic researchers and students interested in language revitalization. This book is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Part I. Planning to Revitalize
Part II. Practical Issues.

Subject Areas: Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Sociolinguistics [CFB], Language [C]