Endangered languages: an introduction

摘要

It is widely agreed that at least half of the world's 7000 languages are endangered and no longer being learnt as first languages by children, and that if nothing is done they will disappear within the coming century as the older generations who now speak them pass away (Krauss 1992; Grenoble 2011). The reasons for language endangerment are complex but typically involve a process of language shift as communities abandon their minority heritage languages in favour of larger more economically, politically and socially powerful tongues, most often those spoken by their neighbours and/or supported by local, regional or national governments and economic systems. In some cases, communities are actively engaged in language revitalisation in an attempt to stem or reverse the tide of language shift.