Learning Journal #8

[Devin Chen]

Languages go extinct when there is no people left to speak it and there is no passing the language down to descent groups. When a language die, it carries sounds that are distinct to the language, the cultural practices associated, and we lose meaning in the sense that words convey a certain worldview. Linguists, such as Dr. David Harrison, has helped the Siletz tribe in Oregon to build their dictionary. Other nonprofit organizations have partnered with the tribes to preserve the language and cultural artifacts. A dead language does have possibility of being brought back to life. For example, the article mentioned that the Siletz Dee-ni language only had about five speakers left, but with consistent help from linguists and organizations, they have helped the language revive. By building dictionaries, teaching it in schools, making the language sound “cool,” they have helped with enlisting new members.