Endangered Languages, Linguistics, and Culture: Researching and Reviving the Unami Language of the Lenape
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2009
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Swarthmore College. Dept. of Linguistics
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Thesis (B.A.)
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Full copyright to this work is retained by the student author. It may only be used for non-commercial, research, and educational purposes. All other uses are restricted.
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Abstract
As many as half of the world's nearly 7,000 languages are poised to become
extinct within the next century. When these languages die, it will impact the endangered
language community and the academic community alike. Language plays a large role in
identity formation, and the loss of a language has significant consequences for its
speakers. Endangered language communities also stand to lose valuable cultural
practices, such as oral histories, traditional songs and poetry, and other art forms that are
tied to language. Linguistics, on the other hand, is at risk for losing half of the subject
matter it studies. The study of linguistics, along with other academic disciplines, can
greatly benefit from the information found in endangered languages. Conversely,
endangered language communities can benefit from expertise of linguists, particularly in
regard to language revitalization efforts. The goals of linguists, however, may not always
coincide with the goals of the endangered language speakers themselves. As a result,
academic culture and traditional culture may clash, causing tensions between linguists
and the community. Through an examination of my own experiences conducting
linguistic research on sentence intonation in an endangered language, Unami, as well as
the experiences of member of the community who learned Unami as a second language, I
argue that while there may be occasional conflicts between the interests of linguists and
those of speakers of endangered languages, through mutual respect and an awareness of
sensitive issues, linguistics and endangered language communities both can benefit from
greater cooperation.