105 Journal 9

[Gabrielle Raffio]

After reading Kirk Johnson’s article “Tribe Revives Language on Verge of Extinction,” I couldn't help but think about the history of the Hebrew language. Both Siletz Dee-ni and Hebrew have experienced a near death of the language and both have been brought back to life. The difference between the two stories, however, is the time periods in which the revitalization took place and the resources available during those times. One of the most powerful tools in bringing back a language is to spread it through the Internet and that is what Bud Lane, a tribe member, was working on. Through his work on the online dictionary, Lane was able to make more connections with those worldwide who speak the language. I think that it is important to recognize how useful the Internet is and the ability to use it to find others who speak such an unusual language is key. I also believe that the ability for a small tribe to revitalize their language shows their cultural strength and pride. Something I found interesting in this article is how governmental boarding schools play a big role in killing the tribal languages. I’m disappointed to know that administrators at these schools do not find it important to keep these languages alive. In conclusion, I think this article really shows the importance of using one’s resources to spread ideas.