Peter K. Austin Livres

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.

Most of the seven thousand languages spoken today are at risk of disappearing in the 21st century. The current rate of language extinction is unprecedented, affecting communities and diminishing the world’s linguistic heritage. This crisis has prompted various responses from linguists; sociolinguists focus on language revitalization, seeking to reverse the shift away from minority languages, while general linguists examine the structural changes languages undergo as they decline. Recently, there has been a heightened emphasis on language documentation, which involves capturing and archiving audiovisual recordings of languages before they vanish. Linguists also grapple with the ethical dilemma of how much non-academic support to provide to the communities they study. The exploration of language endangerment is a relatively new subfield within linguistics, and this four-volume collection represents the first comprehensive effort to compile research from leading scholars over the past sixty years. The editors provide a general introduction outlining the key issues faced by researchers today, while individual volume introductions contextualize the articles. This collection serves as an essential reference for researchers and students interested in language endangerment and related fields.

Most of the seven thousand languages spoken today face the risk of extinction in the 21st century. While languages have always evolved, the current rate of disappearance is unprecedented, impacting communities and diminishing global linguistic heritage. This crisis has prompted varied responses from linguists. Sociolinguists focus on language revitalization, exploring ways to reverse the shift away from minority languages, while general linguists examine the structural changes that occur as languages decline. Recently, there has been a heightened emphasis on language documentation, which involves capturing and archiving audiovisual recordings of languages at risk of vanishing. Additionally, linguists encounter ethical dilemmas regarding their involvement in non-academic support for the communities they study. The exploration of language endangerment is a relatively new subfield within linguistics. This four-volume collection represents a pioneering effort, compiling research from leading scholars over the past sixty years. An introductory overview by the editors outlines the main challenges faced by researchers today, while specific introductions to each volume provide context for the articles included. This comprehensive work is an invaluable reference for researchers and students interested in language endangerment and related fields.

Most of the seven thousand languages spoken today are at risk of disappearing in the 21st century. While languages have always evolved, the current rate of extinction is unprecedented, impacting individual communities and diminishing global linguistic heritage. This crisis has prompted varied responses from linguists: sociolinguists focus on revitalization efforts to reverse the shift away from minority languages, while general linguists examine the structural changes languages undergo as they decline. Recently, there has been a heightened emphasis on language documentation, which involves capturing and archiving audiovisual recordings before languages are lost. Additionally, linguists face ethical dilemmas regarding their involvement in non-academic support for the communities they study. The exploration of language endangerment is a relatively new subfield within linguistics, and this four-volume collection represents a pioneering effort, compiling research from leading scholars over the past sixty years. An introductory overview by the editors outlines key issues in the field, while specific introductions contextualize individual articles. This comprehensive work serves as an essential reference for researchers and students interested in language endangerment and related disciplines.

Es gibt heute über 6000 Sprachen auf der Welt, doch Sprachwissenschaftler schätzen, dass davon bis zum Jahre 2050 die Hälfte ausgestorben sein könnte. Dieses ansprechend gestaltete und informative Buch lädt zu einer linguistischen Entdeckungsreise um den ganzen Globus ein - zu einer Reise, die uns diesen einzigartigen und bedrohten Schatz der Menschheit in vielen Facetten näherbringt. Das mit zahlreichen Farbfotografien, aufschlussreichen Kästen und klaren Karten und Grafiken ausgestattete Werk beleuchtet die Herkunft, die charakteristischen Merkmale und die Wechselbeziehungen von etwa 1000 Sprachen der Erde. Im Detail widmet es sich elf großen Weltsprachen und betrachtet dann nach und nach die wichtigsten Sprachen der verschiedenen Kontinente. Wir erfahren etwas über die Geschichte und Entwicklung dieser Sprachen, wie viele Menschen sie sprechen und wie sie sich geographisch ausgebreitet haben. Darüber hinaus liefert das Buch Informationen über viele gefährdete und vergangene Sprachen. Als kleine Zugabe können Sie schließlich lernen, auf mehr als 250 Arten bis 10 zu zählen.