Vanishing Voices: The Extinction of the Worlds Languages

leondumoulin.nl: Vanishing Voices: The Extinction of the World's Languages: Daniel Nettle, Suzanne Romaine.
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In fact, at least half of the world's languages may die out in the next century.

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What has happened to these voices? Should we be alarmed about the disappearance of linguistic diversity? The authors of Vanishing Voices assert that this trend is far more than simply disturbing. Making explicit the link between language survival and environmental issues, they argue that the extinction of languages is part of the larger picture of near-total collapse of the worldwide ecosystem.

Indeed, the authors contend that the struggle to preserve precious environmental resources-such as the rainforest-cannot be separated from the struggle to maintain diverse cultures, and that the causes of language death, like that of ecological destruction, lie at the intersection of ecology and politics. And while Nettle and Romaine defend the world's endangered languages, they also pay homage to the last speakers of dying tongues, such as Red Thundercloud, a Native American in South Carolina, Ned Mandrell, with whom the Manx language passed away in , and Arthur Bennett, an Australian, the last person to know more than a few words of Mbabaram.

Vanishing Voices: The Extinction of the World's Languages

In our languages lies the accumulated knowledge of humanity. Indeed, each language is a unique window on experience. Vanishing Voices is a call to preserve this resource, before it is too late. Daniel Nettle received his Ph.

He lives in London. She is the author of numerous books, including Language, Education and Development: She lives in Oxford.


  • Brother John.
  • RING AND MESH BAG.
  • Vanishing Voices;
  • The Prophets as Preachers: An Introduction to the Hebrew Prophets.
  • The Extinction of the World's Languages?
  • Richard II.
  • Jane Austen and Representations of Regency England.

This fascinating book is the latest word on this important issue, containing a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. If we have the good sense to rescue the priceless legacy of linguistic diversity before it vanishes forever, Vanishing Voices will surely deserve a good part of the credit.

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Nettle and Romaine paint a breathtaking landscape that shows why so many of the world's languages are disappearing and more importantly, why it matters. They put the problem of linguistic diversity into the wider context of global biodiversity, and propose the revolutionary idea that saving endangered languages is not about dictionaries and educational programs, but about preserving the cultures and habitats of the people who speak them.

Vanishing Voices: The Extinction of the World's Languages by Daniel Nettle

Along the way it's also a fascinating introduction to how language works: Few people know that nearly one hundred native languages once spoken in what is now California are near extinction, or that most of Australia's aboriginal languages have vanished. Daniel Nettle and Suzanne Romaine assert that this trend is far more than simply disturbing. Making explicit the link between language survival and environmental issues, they argue that the extinction of languages is part of the larger picture of near-total collapse of the worldwide ecosystem.

Indeed, the authors contend that the struggle to preserve precious environmental resources-such as the rainforest-cannot be separated from the struggle to maintain diverse cultures, and that the causes of language death, like that of ecological destruction, lie at the intersection of ecology and politics.

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In addition to defending the world's endangered languages, the authors also pay homage to the last speakers of dying tongues, such as Red Thundercloud, a Native American in South Carolina; Ned Mandrell, with whom the Manx language passed away in ; and Arthur Bennett, an Australian who was the last person to know more than a few words of Mbabaram. In our languages lies the accumulated knowledge of humanity.

Aicá Maragá

Indeed, each language is a unique window on experience. Vanishing Voices is a call to preserve this resource, before it is too late. A World of Diversity.

The Ecology of Language.