Teaching Oregon Native Languages - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0870711938 ISBN 13: 9780870711930

Publisher: Oregon State University, 2007

Synopsis

In a world where over half of the remaining six thousand languages will most likely disappear by the end of the century, attention has finally begun to focus on the struggles of indigenous people to save their languages. Lack of knowledge concerning the vast linguistic diversity of Oregon's languages has been a major obstacle to language revitalization in this state. Native peoples were subjected to disease, displacement, and forced linguistic assimilation, leaving many languages with only a few speakers. Some languages died out, but others prevailed in the privacy of homes and longhouses. This book tells the story of perseverance and survival against unbelievable odds, using the words of today's speakers and learners of Oregon's languages. In addition to drawing on archival and scholarly research, the authors interviewed fifty-two individuals throughout Oregon who are speakers of their native languages; their interviews are excerpted throughout the book. These native speakers provide valuable insights into how languages are lost and how a linguistic heritage can be brought to life. Teaching Oregon Native Languages discusses the role of state and federal language policies, explores how archival collections can be used in language revitalization, and describes strategies for creating a successful teaching environment. A timely and necessary resource, it will educate all readers about the important efforts underway to revitalize Oregon's first languages.

About this title

Review

"Language is the most amazing creation of the human species, specifically because it is what creates us as humans ... when whole languages drop out of the mix, it creates a gap in our knowledge base."

About the Author

JOAN GROSS is professor of anthropology at Oregon State University. A linguistic anthropologist, she has conducted research on minority languages and verbal art and taught classes on language and culture at OSU since 1989. She is the author of Speaking in Other Voices: An Ethnography of Walloon Puppet Theaters.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oregon State University
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0870711938
• ISBN 13: 9780870711930
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176
• Editor: Gross Joan