Guerin, Valerie (2008) Writing an endangered language. Language Documentation and Conservation, 2 (1). pp. 47-67.

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Abstract

This paper reports on Mavea, an Oceanic language spoken in Vanuatu. The state of endangerment of Mavea is first evaluated using UNESCO's framework for assessing language vitality. The framework's nine criteria are applied to Mavea, and the results demonstrate that the language is unquestionably endangered. If this language shift is to be reversed, one of the first steps in doing so is to document the language. Materials in and on the language have the potential to restore the language's prestige, or to restore its usage through vernacular literacy. In the case of Mavea, many community members became eager to see printed versions of the materials I had collected during the documentation process, but the language had no writing system. Thus, this paper additionally describes the Mavea community's efforts to establish orthographic conventions for their language and their desire to disseminate the resultant written materials throughout the community. This grassroots interest in vernacular literacy is argued to be a beneficial step towards reversing negative language attitudes.

Item ID:	28179
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1934-5275
Related URLs:	Publisher
Additional Information:	Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License.
Funders:	HRELP
Projects and Grants:	IGS0031
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2013 05:37
FoR Codes:	20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2004 Linguistics > 200408 Linguistic Structures (incl Grammar, Phonology, Lexicon, Semantics) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970120 Expanding Knowledge in Language, Communication and Culture @ 100%
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