1. LDTC Workshop #8
Revitalization

2. Some facts: 3 generations to extinction
The generation that starts to cares about language loss comes a generation after most people stop speaking it
Languages start to change when they become endangered
The more endangered a language is, the harder it is to revitalize
Change faster and in non-natural ways

3. What is Language Revitalization?
“The attempt by interested parties, including individuals, cultural or community groups, governments, or political authorities, to reverse the decline of a language.”
Also called:
Language Revival
Reversing Language Shift
‘Awakening’

4. What are the Goals of Revitalization?
Increase speaker numbers
Increase language use
Within and between different sections in the population
Increase number of domains of use
Places, people, activities
Places: home, church, school, market, official meetings
People: parents, friends, elders, children
Activities: prayer/church, games, sporting events, secret codes

5. Levels of Magnitude Large Scale Small Scale
Country- or community-wide efforts to reverse language shift
Israeli/Hebrew
Scottish and Irish Gaelic
Cherokee
Small Scale
Individual or small group efforts
Family use in the home
Language use in community centers
In a particular school program
Cherokee: 3 Million dollar investment, development of post secondary degree programs, immersive education beginning in preschool

6. Successful revitalization efforts usually include:
Long-term community commitment and enthusiasm for revitalization
A well thought-out plan and step-by-step achievable goals
Speakers (and older learners) willing to act as mentors and teachers
Language immersion, at least for the younger children
Commitment to language use in most domains (not just in school and at home)

7. Types of Revitalization Programs

8. Language Nests A preschool- or kindergarten-like setting
Childcare providers are elders, adults who speak the native language with the children
Successful program: Maori language nests in New Zealand “Te kōhanga reo”
Drawbacks: stops at kindergarten age.

9. Immersion schools Post-kindergarten level
Some to all academic subjects taught in native language from native-speakers
Example: Hawaiian Language Immersion Program
Drawbacks: school-based programs. Don’t necessarily influence any other domains, and can sour students to the language if they are forced to do it. Also have to fit into existing educational framework: ow does it work with the national curriculum? If it’s after school, how many kids are going to want to stay and do more school?

10. Master-Apprentice Programs
All participants are adults
An apprentice is paired with a master (native speaking elder) to meet regularly and converse in the native language
Examples: Chickasaw, California languages, Australia
Downside: have to have independently motivated people. In Cali, they get paid, but that means your motivation to continue after the money stops is probably minimal.

11. Community-Based Programs
Can be any age; there is no real connection to school
Usually a summer camp or weekend activity
Revolves around community activities, but only using the native language
Downside: not usually frequent enough to create native speakers.

12. Other Ideas… Starting small:
Create “domains” in your everyday life where you only speak your native language (for example: in the kitchen)
Find or become a mentor and speak only your native language for a few hours a week
Create a small group of people who do culturally relative things (crafts, activities) once a month where only the native language is spoken
Do a project on some interesting aspect of the language and/or culture which might get others interested in revitalization
Projects: a map of native place names, a dictionary, childrens books, recording folk tales

13. Your Turn!
With your mentors, think about steps you could take in your community to revitalize, or maintain, your language.
Things to consider:
Where your language is, in terms of vitality and revitalization needs
Doable programs and activities that you feel you could complete with a small amount of resources
How many know there already are revitalization programs for your language?

14. Beyond LDTC
LDTC is only the beginning. There are a lot of things you can do with the skills and knowledge you’ve learned here
Create a small-scale revitalization project
record more stories, poems, songs from speakers of your language
work on your dictionary more
Find out if there are linguists working on your language
Take Advanced LDTC!
Thank you!