The Cambridge Handbook of Endangered Languages

This Handbook examines the reasons behind the loss of linguistic diversity and what can be done to document and support endangered languages.

Peter K. Austin (Edited by), Julia Sallabank (Edited by)

9780521882156, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 March 2011

580 pages, 16 b/w illus. 10 tables
25.5 x 18.4 x 3.4 cm, 1.29 kg

'The Cambridge Handbook of Endangered Languages is without a doubt a welcome contribution to the field of linguistics and language preservation. One of the key aspects of preserving minority languages is public engagement, so the production of easy to read and highly accessible texts such as this is an important step in the process. It is authoritative and comprehensive, providing both facts and current academic theory to great and provocative effect.' Zoe Bartliff, LinguistList (www.linguistlist.org)

It is generally agreed that about 7,000 languages are spoken across the world today and at least half may no longer be spoken by the end of this century. This state-of-the-art Handbook examines the reasons behind this dramatic loss of linguistic diversity, why it matters, and what can be done to document and support endangered languages. The volume is relevant not only to researchers in language endangerment, language shift and language death, but to anyone interested in the languages and cultures of the world. It is accessible both to specialists and non-specialists: researchers will find cutting-edge contributions from acknowledged experts in their fields, while students, activists and other interested readers will find a wealth of readable yet thorough and up-to-date information.

1. Introduction Peter K. Austin and Julia Sallabank
Part I. Endangered Languages: 2. Language ecology and endangerment Lenore Grenoble
3. Speakers and communities Colette Grinevald and Michel Bert
4. Survey of endangered language situations around the world David Bradley
5. Language contact and change in endangered languages Carmel O'Shannessy
6. Structural aspects of language endangerment Naomi Palosaari and Lyle Campbell
7. Language and culture Lev Michael
8. Language and society Bernard Spolsky
Part II. Language Documentation: 9. Language documentation Tony Woodbury
10. Speakers and language documentation Lise Dobrin and Josh Berson
11. Data and language documentation Jeff Good
12. Archiving and language documentation Lisa Conathan
13. Digital archiving David Nathan
Part III. Responses: 14. Language policy for endangered languages Julia Sallabank
15. Revitalisation of endangered languages Leanne Hinton
16. Orthography development Friederike Lüpke
17. Lexicography in endangered language communities Ulrike Mosel
18. Language curriculum design and evaluation for endangered languages Serafin Coronel-Molina and Teresa McCarty
19. The role of information technology in supporting minority and endangered languages Gary Holton
Part IV. Challenges: 20. Endangered languages and economic development Wayne Harbert
21. Researcher training and capacity development in language documentation Anthony Jukes
22. New roles for endangered languages Máiréad Moriarty
23. Planning a language documentation project Claire Bowern.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Sociolinguistics [CFB], Philosophy of language [CFA]