Human Rights and Human Flourishing

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Human Rights and Human Flourishing

A Research Essay on Language Loss and Efforts of Preservation and Revitalization

Languages are becoming fewer and fewer. It is not known exactly how many languages have been spoken throughout human history. Anthropologist’s best estimate is between 10,000 and 20,000 (Heiber). According to a report given by SIL International at the 26th Linguistic Symposium in August 2013, linguists have record of 7,480 known languages. 7,103 are still in use today, 4,710 are judged “vital” or safe while the remaining 34% are found threatened or near extinction (SIL, 25). Some anthropologists and linguists are greatly disturbed by these figures. They believe that minority language speakers are undervaluing their native tongue and consequently losing connection to their heritage. Moreover, they are concerned we are losing aspects of our collective human richness. To these, language preservation and revitalization efforts are of utmost importance. Others hold that language loss is a natural evolution, that we are eliminating communication barriers and trending toward more in common. They argue that if language preservation and revitalization efforts are to be made, they should initiate from community members on the basis of “community self-esteem” and not by those outside. By considering a scope of reasons why language die, a better understanding of differing responses to the decline of languages is hoped to result, as well as a more thought-through, developed position concerning efforts of language preservation and revitalization.

For a language to thrive it must maintain function in society. If a language is not considered useful socially or economically its speakers will not continue using it or teaching it ...

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Works Cited

Gibbon, Dafydd. “What Strategies For Revitalizing Endangered Languages Have Been Successful?” ResearchGate. Web. May 2014.

Hieber, Danny. “Why Do Languages Die?” Mises Daily. Jan. 4, 2012. Web. Apr. 2014.

Lisa Duchene. “Probing Question: What Is Lost When A Language Dies?” Penn State News. Feb 11, 2008. Web. May 2014.

Sampat, Payal. “Last Words: The Dying of Languages”. World Watch Magazine. May/June 2001, Vol. 14. No.3. Web. May 2014.

SIL International. “The World’s Languages in Crisis: A 20-Year Update.” Paper presented at the 26th Linguistics Symposium: Language Death, Endangerment, Documentation, and Revitalization. University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Oct. 2011. Final revision Aug. 2013.

“Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights”. Presented at the World Conference of Linguistic Rights in Barcelona, Spain. June 1996.

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