Week 9 Journal #7

[Tana Kuptanon]

• Respond to the reading, reflecting on what is lost when languages die.  (You might want to watch the interview with David Harrison posted to the front page of the Ning.) 
• Instinctively I would think what is lost is small specific things such as the accuracy of the lost language being pronounced if it is revived back again. It is incredible to think how there are only a handful of people who speak a language and they are trying to revive it back, however if some had some mispronunciations and was adamant that it was correct even if it isn't correct then even if people thought it was incorrect, they don't have a reference to debate over it. All the references are based on unofficial sources.
• Additionally, what is lost when a language dies is more about the exterior factors than the languages itself. As people evolve, move from one place to another and lose languages then parts or sometimes unfortunately all of the language's culture and history connected it changes or is lost. Languages is like a puzzle piece. It contains many local knowledge about secrets, wisdom, ecological problems, weather and climate problems, spiritual attitudes, artistic, and mythological histories. An example would be the Yiddish phrase of "Oy Vey"; is it directly translated as "oh dear" however those growing up with a strong jewish-yiddish culture can tell you that the"oh dear" translation does not convey the feelings and full meaning that varies from sad, hurt, to worried and aggravation. 
• When a tribe moves, dies out or gets conquered, then a new language is usually forced upon. The new language becomes the main language communicated in public and over time becomes the official language. When this happens then how we process and sees the world changes. Each language makes us think differently and hence process the world differently. If that language dies, then the thought process is eradicated. 
• • Respond to the reading, reflecting on what is lost when languages die.  (You might want to watch the interview with David Harrison posted to the front page of the Ning.)
  • When a language dies or comes close to dying, leaving only a handful speaking it, then many aspects of the language and culture is altered. Some examples is the writing, pronunciation, definition, grammar to name a few changes.
  • Writing, pronunciation,, definition, and grammar could be altered when reviving a language because the only handful of people who do know a limited knowledge of the language could be pronouncing, writing, using, defining the language in a biased and possibly incorrect way. 
  • Relating it back to Hebrew, Hebrew has gone through 4 stages of development: 1. Biblical (before 0 CE) 2. Rabbinic (~0-700 CE) 3. Medieval 4. Modern. Medieval Hebrew was a literary language and mostly differs from rabbinic Hebrew because of the adoption of new words from Greek and Arabic philosophy. 
  • So when reviving an old language, there might be new influences from modern cultural into the language, and hence why reviving the language will never be the same, or come close to the original language. 
  • Old hebrew and modern hebrew is a good example. In terms of writing, old hebrew and modern hebrew is fairly the same. Pronunciation, depending on who you ask is also the same or completely different. Modern hebrew does not care as much to differentiate the subtle sounds whereas old hebrew does. Grammar is also less strict and constricted. Old hebrew has vowels known as nikkud to guide readers whereas modern hebrew does not. Modern hebrew also does not have as many vowels or alphabets as old hebrew. Modern Hebrew employs the same grammatical system as old hebrew, but has a contemporary vocabulary.