Language Revival: Securing the Future of Endangered Languages

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Language is an integral part of society. Wherever we come from, the words we use and the way in which we use them are fundamental to our cultural identity. In today's increasingly globalised world, however, 'linguicide' " the loss of a language " is becoming all too common. But there is hope. The language revival movement has emerged as an important and effective response, and this course will introduce you to its key principles and techniques.

After discussing powerful answers to the question of why languages should be revived, we'll investigate how. Far more than just a simple process of recovering literacy and lost letters, language revival involves a deep and complex engagement with history, human rights, identity and wellbeing. You will also learn what's being done around the world right now, and how effective these techniques have been.

What you will learn

In this course, you will

• Explore connections between language and identity.
• Understand the impact of language loss on people around the world.
• Examine what is being done to revive languages today.

Syllabus

Week 1: Linguicide (Case for Revival)

• Understand the ethics of language revival
• Discuss the aesthetic considerations
• Explore the political and economic imperatives for language revival.

Week 2: Revivalistics (New Transdisciplinary Field of Enquiry)

• Express how and why working closely with your community is the best practice for language revival
• Discuss ways in which to coin new terms for new concepts and modern terminology
• Detail how and why language revival is a transdisciplinary, including linguistic, endeavour.

Week 3: Israeli (Case Study: Revived Hebrew)

• Describe the history of Hebrew and Israeli
• Start coining phono-semantic matches in order to expand the vocabulary of your revived language
• Analyse multiple causation and cross-fertilization between languages, which are an inevitable byproduct of language revival
• Apply the Founder Principle and the Congruence Principle in various contexts.

Week 4: Kaurna (Case Study)

• Discuss what happened to Kaurna and why it should be reclaimed
• Detail the sources and methods used to transform the language
• Explain how Kaurna language in used in the public domain
• Outline how to overcome the challenges for reawakening a language.

Week 5: Saving Languages (Recapitulation, Comparative Analysis)

• Discuss and apply the rigour of the Language Revival Diamond (LaRD)
• Differentiate and compare the key components of language revival as applied to the spectrum of reclamation, revitalization and reinvigoration
• Detail the various methods employed to revive a language in a given state of loss
• Discuss ways in which languages might be preserved, revived or reclaimed, for future generations
• Contrast and compare the constraints and limitations of languages under revival.

Auto Summary

"Language Revival: Securing the Future of Endangered Languages" is a foundational course in Personal Development offered by edX. Led by experts, it delves into the significance of preserving linguistic diversity. Over 6 weeks, learners explore the principles and techniques of language revival, examining global efforts and their effectiveness. Ideal for those passionate about cultural identity and human rights, this course offers professional subscription options.