Preserving dying languages with Google's help

[romp]

The Google Endangered Languages Project website, which launched Thursday and coincided with National Aboriginal Day, invites language experts from around the world to post videos, audio clips, books and other publications to catalogue endangered or extinct languages.

It was created by a committee of international language experts called the

Comments

[romp]

The apps for the languages seem like one of the most useful developments.

Where I live, several schools teach the local indigenous language. I heard a group of teens having a conversation in it a few years ago so it must be working to some extent. It seems like learning it as a child should make all the difference but maybe I'm wrong. I was surprised to see Irish Gaelic on the map since I thought it was taught in school.

OTOH, I took a couple of languages for YEARS in school and can't speak either. :/

[lizzy_someone]

If teenagers are speaking it voluntarily amongst themselves that's an awesome sign! So often the youth aren't on board with the minority language. I've even heard of Irish kids to whom it literally didn't occur that Gaelic was a language you could use in real-life contexts, they thought it was an only-in-the-classroom sort of thing. [random endangered-language-related nattering redacted because people don't need to watch a linguistics major jizzing her pants]

[alryssa]

Seriously... I think this is really a very neat way to utilise the concept of 'crowdsourcing'.

[lurkch]

This looks very cool.

[lunchy]

It'd be so nice if this ends up making a difference! I've always wanted to learn Ainu and it breaks my heart that only a few of the elders speak it now. Hopefully, even if this language tragically dies, others can be saved.

[tabaqui]

Very cool. It's infinitely depressing to think of a people actually *losing* their own language, even though they themselves still survive. I hope this helps tremendously.

[illusivevenstar]

Yea, knew my tribe's language would be on there. It's something I spoke fluently when I was a kid, but I lost it when we moved to a white community and became integrated. I've tried to take courses but found myself in a room full of white people, which includes the teacher. I honestly don't want to learn my language from a white dude. I really don't.

[romp]

Of course not. Have looked for apps? I know there are more and more distance options but I'm sure nothing is better than sitting with an elder who desperately wants you to learn your language. :/