November 2018 Issue 65

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FOUNDATION FOR ENDANGERED LANGUAGES In this issue:

Spotlight on the Anglo-Celtic Isles

Unserdeutsch

Interview with Tim Brookes

Kodrah Kristang

Read about the Loughrans’ generous donation to the FEL on Page 8 www.ogmios.org

Editor: Hayley E. Ferguson

Editor-at-Large: Chris Moseley

Assistant Editor: Ben Griffiths

Designed by:

Nat Goddard CONTENTS

Page 4 The Editor

Page 6 2018 Advocacy and Campaigns

Page 8 In Memoriam: James Loughran

Page 12 Awakening Kristang: One year on

Page 16 Researchers are working to document Unserdeutsch before it’s too late

Page 20 Digital Atlas of Endangered Scripts to launch in early 2019

Page 23 In the Media

Page 28 Anglo-Celtic Isles 4 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

THE EDITOR

- Hayley Ferguson

In 1998 science fiction novellaStory of Your Life and its film adaptation, Arrival, the protagonist deciphers an alien language which changes her linear perception of time and allows her to experience events that have yet to happen. Popular culture and the media routinely advocates for the world’s linguistic ecosystem because – so the story goes – each language provides a lens through which we can access the unique worldview of its speakers. It’s an intoxicating idea. Indeed, many enter the field under the influence of this notion.

Most agree that language offers insight into just how pliable the human mind is. The claim that speaking a language can empower the speaker to perceive the surrounding world in all sorts of novel ways makes a stellar case for language revitalisation. But the fact is, the jury is still out on exactly how language and cognition are linked.

Linguistic determinism is only tenuously supported in the academic sphere, and the debate surrounding the topic is contentious due to its dark past in linguistic supremacy. At its worst, determinism implies that individuals are somehow confined by the constituents So why is linguistic determinism still unfamiliar perceptions of the space-time of their language. This confinement is widely considered to be valid in the public continuum – in plain sight. The promotion surely not what’s intended by researchers arena? Well, the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is of determinism is often compassionate, exploring the thought-language arguably our field’s most accessible theory and rooted in a desire to celebrate relationship in the context of linguistic known in the mainstream. With a versatile difference and represent an array relativity. Researchers are well aware and elastic profile, it seems its popular of experiences in the media. of the ways in which determinism can appeal outside of academia comes, to a be used to intensify the boundaries certain extent, down to our preoccupation Without an educational background in the between dominant and minority cultures. with science fiction and futurology: the history of determinism, it’s unsurprising However, well-intentioned bloggers postulation of possible futures. Unscholarly that some laymen make the leap from still use its central ideas in defence of interpretations suggest an alternate reality “language and thought are intricately language maintenance, broadcasting even where speakers of minority languages bound in a relationship that is not yet disproven claims as absolute truth. are hiding exceptional abilities – like fully understood” to “language both facilitates and limits cognitive processes”. That’s where matters can become a little more sinister. ogmios.org Nov 2018 5

Determinism can stir interest from outside This is a conversation that needs to A reluctance to publicly dispel the myths the field, but is, dare I say, poor marketing be initiated with the media to dispel of determinism assumes that Western for endangered language research; misconceptions and prevent further audiences will be most concerned with language simply does not have the degree damage to the speech communities language revitalisation if they can stand of power inferred by its more far-fetched with which we work. While simplifying in awe at just how different and “other” interpretations. One’s ability to understand linguistic relativity for the masses is minority cultures must be. It fails to one’s surroundings is categorically not generally well-intentioned, the prevalence acknowledge that many examples of confined to the grammatical systems of of content promoting fallacies warrants language extermination have been part one’s native language. a more determined effort by language of a larger effort to exterminate a people. popularisers to highlight a distinction Language is important to its speakers Most linguists and social scientists between the two schools of thought to our first and foremost as a tool that facilitates reject bona fide determinism, and the audiences outside of academia. self-expression and communication. It is important distinction between relativism a vehicle through which we can discuss and determinism is usually implied in Armchair linguists are the spokespeople experiences central to our cultures, and their work. However, mainstream content of our field. They perform the ground- has plenty of characteristics beyond the making the results of studies in linguistic level communication about the social determinist lens that legitimise study and relativity accessible to nonprofessionals importance of minority languages that widespread discussion. Ensuring that is rarely explicitly distanced from hard- we, as academics, simply cannot. Without journalists can easily access these facts set determinism. The thought traps access to global audiences, our scope will refocus the conversation and shift our accompanying these closely related can be somewhat limited to intellectual efforts into the human rights domain. theories are seldom discussed in media domains. That’s precisely why, especially coverage of evidence for relativity. There in the case of labyrinthine theories like Portraying language as a worldview is a host of possible explanations for this relativism, communication of academic ultimately creates a barrier between trend. Speakers may be placed under research to the population at large a minority language and its speakers, time constraints. Feature editors may must be administered in a way that who may already be marginalised. Surely, cut content under the belief that it does the target audience can clearly interpret. we should focus on the universals of the not relate to the main subject matter. An As academics, it is our responsibility human experience, all the while respecting academic offered the opportunity to cross to explain our work to the mainstream and celebrating difference in a way that over into mainstream content production in an objective way that acknowledges does not separate our object of study may be discouraged from frittering away its potential to support from its speakers, who are, when all’s limited space on a topic that seems problematic discourses. said and done, infinitely more – from an outsider perspective – important than our work. to be largely irrelevant.

I would like to preface this issue of I especially want to offer my heartfelt Ogmios with an apology to our thanks, and condolences, to Claudia subscribers for the hold-up to the Loughran, who has raised substantial newsletter this year. Many of you will funding for the FEL research grants aware that my appointment has included in the name of James Loughran, her a push toward publishing only exclusive late husband, who tragically passed or original content, and a focus on away in April. We are so grateful for ensuring the newsletter is observant of this incredibly generous gesture, incoming content regulations. This has which will help numerous caused considerable delays for which I communities whose languages can only beg your pardon. With any luck, are in critical need of support. however, this will expand our Turn to Page 8 to find out about international impact, and increase more about James and Claudia. interest in this cause.

Following this change in content direction, I have also been on a journey to identify collaborators who see eye-to-eye on the FEL vision. One such If you want your voice to be collaborator is the marvellous designer heard in the upcoming issue of this issue, Nathaniel Goddard, to of Ogmios, get in contact whom I’d like to extend my gratitude for with Hayley E. Ferguson: his tireless creative input! [email protected]. 6 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

2018 ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNSWriter’s Name

- Chris Moseley

In my article in the last issue, I mentioned that the current outrage against the Rohingya Muslims of Burma, by implication, is an outrage against speakers of Arakanese. Of course, language is not considered a major issue in this Four years ago a petition was issued to persecution, either by the media or by the the European Union to ensure that the oppressors of the Rohingya. Our focus has lesser-used languages of Europe were to be strictly on language, so we have to not forgotten in its language policy be well-informed about the situation of formulations. the Arakanese language.

Since the last issue of Ogmios, there As we go to press with this issue, a lot of has been little activity in the sphere of publicity is being given to the last member advocacy, and no press releases have of an uncontacted tribe in Rondonia yet been issued. Our editor has come state in Brazil, his fellow tribesmen up with several bright new ideas for the having been murdered 22 years ago. future running of FEL, and press Releases One man’s solitude is suddenly world are among them. In an image-conscious news. That is food for thought. What world, an organisation of international language he speaks can’t be known yet, membership like our own needs to present but whatever it is, it is endangered. The itself carefully and conscientiously. We (if Brazilian organisation for the protection of I may use that collective pronoun) need uncontacted tribes, FUNAI, has placed an to check our facts before assuming that embargo on any invasion of his territory language rights are being infringed. We or contact with him. Our pals at Survival need to issue our statements in a timely International, based in London, have taken way, riding ahead of the crest of a wave of an interest in the case. But this is not an news if we can - though of course offences issue in which FEL can intervene – as far as against languages are usually committed I can see, it isn’t a matter for our advocacy President-elect Jair Bolsonaro over a long period, and not by sudden or action. How can we fail to fiat. We need to present them visually in be curious, though? a distinctive house style, consistent from (Source: Wikimedia Commons via release to release, to show that we are Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom) not fly-by-night operators who are only going to get angry once and withdraw. And we need to contact the world from an identifiable address and on a verifiable Since the writing of this comment, Brazil peoples of the region face under this date. We also have to learn more about has undergone major political changes new government – with suicide and effective distribution to the media, that could have irreversible impact on disease due to contact with gold- including social media. the indigenous communities of the miners rife in the already-crowded Amazon. With the recent election of far- conditions under which these tribes right political candidate Jair Bolsonaro’s live, assassination is just one more as President, the efforts of the Brazilian adversity these individuals are already governmental protection agency up against. In the face of a world leader for indigenous peoples – Fundação who has said that it’s “a shame that the Nacional do Índio (FUNAI) – are now Brazilian cavalry wasn’t as efficient as threatened. Bolsonaro has stated intent the Americans, who exterminated their to close down FUNAI, which currently Indians,” we at the FEL believe that the protects over 100 uncontacted tribes world needs to act now. You can find – leading up to his election, he stated: out more about any future action taken “If I become president, there will not by us on our website and social media be one centimetre more of indigenous platforms, and see the letter issued by land.” And the dispossession of land is Chris Moseley on the opposite page. not the only peril that the indigenous ogmios.org Nov 2018 7

(Source: flickr.com/photos/lubasi)

Dear Mr. President,

The Foundation for Endangered which monitors the endangerment of Languages has learned with alarm of your the world’s precious and dwindling stock declared intention, as the newly elected of minority languages. Your country is President of Brazil, not to demarcate any particularly rich in such languages, though more indigenous reserves in your country, many of them are already on the brink and to open up existing reserves to of extinction. We urge you, in the name mining. If this is truly your intended policy, of humanity, to renounce this claim upon it will amount not only to an ecological the lives and rights of Brazil’s indigenous catastrophe but also to the effective denial people, of whom we should all be proud. to Brazil’s indigenous people of the few of minority languages. Your country is rights that they do have. The exploitation particularly rich in such languages, though of indigenous lands in your country is many of them are already on the brink already well documented: for the purposes of extinction. We urge you, in the name of logging, large-scale industrial farming of humanity, to renounce this claim upon and mining, vast tracts of Indigenous land the lives and rights of Brazil’s indigenous have already been devastated. people, of whom we should all be proud. Our Foundation is an international charity 8 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

IN MEMORIAM: JAMESWriter’s LOUGHRAN Name

- Claudia Loughran

James and I met on the steps of SOAS peace. As a second-generation immigrant of will-they-won’t-they, and a number in 2007. We were both active in the child who had spoken Polish at home of aborted attempts at a relationship, Stop the War Coalition, protesting the before learning English at school, our paths took us to different corners government’s belligerence in the Middle I’d rather hoped to be the one to of the globe. East – I was in the final year of my Politics contribute the Polish. I asked who’d BA, and he had just started his MA in written it – it was James! So we got James spent time in Poland and later Endangered Language Documentation talking and it turned out he’d just the Crimea, while I pushed further east and Description. returned from teaching English near to South East Asia. Eventually, in 2013, Krakow, and was fluent in Polish. I found a teaching job in post Gaddafi We first got to know one another at Libya. I’d tried to convince James to come a banner-making session. The idea was From there, a friendship blossomed, to Libya, and he had tried to convince me to write ‘peace’ in as many different and many an evening was spent in one to join him in the Crimea. During his time languages as we could. I was a little late, another’s company at the weekly SOAS there, James perfected his Russian to a and as I arrived, I saw that someone had Quiz, house parties, Ethiopian restaurants, native level, which was his primary motive already written pokoj: the Polish word for and independent film nights. After years for living and working there.

Claudia Loughran has raised more than £4850 for the FEL in James’ name. To date, this is our most generous donation ever. These funds are now being used to revitalise and document languages around the world. You can find out more about any future collaborations between Claudia and the FEL on our website. ogmios.org Nov 2018 9

He spent three years in Ukraine, from A few months into my stint in Libya, there He gave me Russian lessons, he wined September 2011 to August 2014, where was a protest against the militia control of and dined me in local restaurants and he perfected his Russian language skills Tripoli, during which scores of unarmed pubs, and we plotted our next move. and learnt Ukrainian. He spent large civilians were killed. James picked up on A state of civil war in Libya and a rapidly- amounts of his free time travelling the ensuing violence in Tripoli and called declining Hryvna in Ukraine meant we throughout the country and interviewing me relentlessly to ensure I registered my were both on the lookout for a new consultants in an effort to determine presence at the British Embassy. Due to adventure. We decided to travel together language-speaking preferences amongst his insistence, I fired off an email, only to Odessa, and then to Moldova, making the population, depending on the locale. to be instructed to check Facebook and a side-stop at the disputed territory of His efforts were to determine language Twitter for updates, because the “Locate” Transnistria; James and I shared a love use in a non-politicised and culturally- service had been scaled back. It was for obscure states. neutral fashion, and to verify whether at that moment I realised exactly how there was any truth to the widely-held important we were to one another. During that time, we sent applications to view that whereas Russian was spoken language schools around the world, and predominantly spoken in the East, In May 2014, having temporarily left the were both offered positions at universities the South and in Kiev, Ukrainian was country on a visa-run, the militias blew in Riyadh. Within a few months, we had predominantly spoken in the West. up Tripoli International Airport. This left both relocated, and we decided to get I have since blogged extensively on me in the curious position of being in married at the [British?] Embassy – we these tendencies of language usage, possession of a return flight to an airport were so very much in love (not to mention as well as native speakers’ beliefs which no longer existed. At a loss for we agreed it would be helpful to be regarding them, and found that those what next to do, I finally accepted James’ married with regard to being able to live views are at best subjective, at worst invitation to come to Kiev, where he’d just together, and avoiding beheading). erroneous, and that Russian has moved in the wake of Russia’s annexation a tendency to dominate in most locales. of the Crimea. Thrown together through circumstances beyond our control, I arrived in Kiev, to James’ Soviet-style apartment with a view of Kiev Zoo’s bison enclosure from the kitchen window. 10 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

On 27th November 2014 – or 4 Safar 1436 is about as far removed from the standard James’ health began to decline, though, – we were married by the British Consul in as say Latin from the Romance languages. and in February 2017, we decided to his home in the Diplomatic Quarter, with As formal language instruction (which at moved back to the UK. Our last trip only two witnesses present: some Pakistani any rate is out of reach to migrant workers abroad together was to attend a friend’s friends we’d recently met there. After due to the costs involved) only exists in wedding in Algiers. James picked up standing around with a bouquet of flowers MSA it appears that a largely creolised the basics of Algerian Arabic in the ten and some non-alcoholic champagne we form of Saudi Arabic has arisen, which days we were there, and also relished the got changed out of our gladrags and foreign workers use to communicate. opportunity to speak French and Russian jumped in the car for an epic 2000km The results of any such study are with my friend’s mother, who is originally round-trip journey to the Nabatean ruins noteworthy, especially as migrant from Eastern Ukraine. of Mada’in Saleh. There, we camped and workers make up a significant part explored the tombs and rock formations, of Saudi Arabia’s population. On 2nd April 2018, James tragically made and what is left of the old Hijaz railway. On the decision to take his own life, and thus our return to the UK, we had our wedding After a brief time spent volunteering in our great love story ended. celebration at the Caribbean Community Andalucia, we started our own business. Centre in Coventry, James’ hometown. I taught English online and James Language has always been an integral part The theme was traditional dress from translated Russian, Polish, German, of my own life; I spoke Russian, German around the world – I was the Chinese Spanish, French and Dutch texts into and English at home, and all before the Dowager Empress and James went was English. As we were able to work from age of seven. With that in mind, I’ve in Saudi thobe and shemagh. We chose anywhere, we took our backpacks and never met anyone so adept at language each other’s outfits. We had karaoke, laptops and moved to Brazil, staying a acquisition as my late husband, James a quiz, a henna artist and a Ukrainian month or two in each place for about nine Loughran, for whom language-learning bread ceremony. For years after, months. We then spent another six months was a personal passion. everyone told us it was the best in Cusco, Peru. James picked up Brazilian wedding they’d ever attended. Portuguese effortlessly, and studied Curiously, his captivation only began in his Southern Quechua in Cusco. His Quechua late teens, during his time spent in Israel James worked as an English teacher at teacher, Julia, invited us to her wedding. volunteering on a variety of kibbutzim. the University of King Saud, Riyadh, Saudi Because he hadn’t enjoyed French at Arabia between 2014 and 2015. In his free James considered doing a PhD school, he was certainly not planning to time, he carried out an empirical, informal on the ongoing revitalisation of become a linguist. But, he quickly picked study on Arabic usage amongst the Southern Quechua amongst the up German and Swedish from the other migrant worker and expatriate community. younger generations, which look kibbutz volunteers, and after a brief The language situation in Saudi Arabia, great on paper, and the actual reality spell in Germany, he decided to study along with other Arabic countries, is one on the ground, as well as the influence German and Spanish as part of his Modern of diglossia. Modern Standard Arabic from the Spanish language. Language undergraduate degree. (MSA) is the official language of the country, whereas the local population communicate using Arabic dialect, which James was a hyperpolyglot. A graduate of the SOAS MA in Endangered Language Documentation and Description, he was passionate about the preservation and documentation of minority languages. ogmios.org Nov 2018 11

Claudia stamps James’ collection of books for the Mosul University Library in Iraq.

He went on to achieve a high level of While James was never formally I recently had James’ collection of fluency in German, Swedish, Dutch, Polish, diagnosed with a specific condition, he books on linguistics and language Russian, Ukrainian, Italian, Portuguese, struggled for two decades. The drugs learning stamped “From the Spanish, French and Hungarian. Hungarian offered by modern psychiatry couldn’t Library of James Loughran, who was one of his last additions; he chose ease his pain, which was ever-present loved these books”, and sent to learn it so he could develop skills and at times debilitating. Despite his to Mosul via Bradford and Erbil. in a non-Indo European, agglutinating brilliance and his gregarious nature, he While the city was under Daesh language. Southern Quechua added to always felt a failure. James struggled with control, the Mosul University his proficiency in agglutinating languages, mental health problems from puberty, and Library was destroyed. Now it has but it also helped him perfect ejective sadly this held him back with regards to been liberated, there has been consonants, evidentiality and topic pursuing his research interests. Had he a worldwide call for donations marking. During his travels and work, he been able to manage his health effectively of books and publications of all also learnt, to various degrees, Mandarin, I have no doubt that his contribution to kinds, about any subject and in as Standard Arabic and Najdi Arabic, for the endangered language documentation many languages as possible. I hope purposes of verbal communication. As a would have been tremendous. one day a budding Iraqi linguist friendly, curious and outgoing person, he will find the page with the stamp found language-learning incredibly easy I wanted to choose a cause to remember and wonder who James Loughran and enjoyed being able to interact with James’ passion in life: languages, and their might have been. It is rather poetic different peoples in their native tongues. preservation. His former SOAS colleagues to have sent the books there, recommended I donate to the FEL. I felt it given that James’ last project was But for James, the documentation of was the perfect organisation to fundraise learning Sumerian (or Akkadian - I new languages was most important; he for, so I set up a JustGiving page and also am not sure) Cuneiform, of Ancient believed that they all require research collected money at the funeral service. Mesopotamia. He was looking at before it is too late. Upon completion of At this point, I have raised £4,865, and old Epic of Gilgamesh tablets and the MA programme, James was awarded the page remains open. It has been trying to learn the script. a PhD studentship with the SOAS-based truly humbling to receive such generous Hans Rausing Endangered Languages donations from friends all around the If you also have any reference Project. The title of the doctoral thesis world, and a testament to just how books that could assist this was Topic and Focus in Tundra Yukaghir, loved James was. project, and you would also like a member of the Yukaghir language to contribute, please contact family spoken in Siberia. Irina Nikolaeva The money I have fundraised in his name the Director of Mosul University was assigned as his tutor. He originally will go towards a variety of projects in Libraries, Mohammed J. intended to carry out data collection on- all corners of our globe; it will be the Aalhajiahmed, site in the Kolyma Basin, but was unable last thing James does for this very at [email protected] to take up the studentship due to worthwhile cause. a shortage of funding. 12 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

AWAKENING KRISTANG: ONE YEAR ON

A year and a half on from our last meeting, we catch up with Kevin Martens Wong, the face of Kodrah Kristang, to find out how his revitalisation efforts are taking off in Singapore

“We’re being featured almost every month by a different media publication.”

Kevin launched Kodrah Kristang after researching Singaporean languages at university in January 2015. How has Singapore, as a state, received your push to revitalise Kristang?

Really well! Aside from the National Day coverage, we applied for and won state-sponsored grants to run the Festival in May 2017, mainly from the National How has the Kodrah Kristang How does the future of Kristang look? Heritage Board and Our Singapore Fund, movement grown since we spoke in as well as an initial micro-grant from the April 2017? I honestly think the future is still very Young Changemakers’ Programme at the uncertain, because our movement is still National Youth Council in August 2016. By our estimates, there is much greater small, and we haven’t quite embarked on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy awareness of Kristang in Singapore now. a full-scale launch of children’s classes and Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Minister This is of course almost impossible to other material intended to reach families S Iswaran and Member of Parliament quantify, but based on media articles and and the next generation — which is really Joan Pereira have all featured us either in mentions in the public sphere, we’re still important and probably the most crucial speeches or on their Facebook pages, and being featured almost every month by gap that we need to fill (we’re being held a number of our media features are also a different media publication, and still back by a lack of specialised manpower). by statutory boards or ministries, such as appearing in features with a fairly large The locus of the movement is also still the National Heritage Board, the National audience reach, like Channel NewsAsia with the community as a grassroots Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre and the (August 2018) and Suria (November initiative, which of course means inherent Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. 2018). I am also being featured this year uncertainty as the community continues on collateral in the run up to Singapore’s to evolve; additionally, all five Core Team We also maintain close ties with the National Day, so mentions of Kodrah members will be working in full-time jobs Singapore Eurasian Association, which is Kristang are on street banners, bus stops starting next January, which may have the main entity sponsored by the state and outdoor screens across the island, some impact on how frequently that represents Eurasians in Singapore; and I’m part of a lineup of speakers called we can organise events. But thanks the EA has featured and hosted us on LumiNation who are introducing parts to what we’ve achieved in the last two- innumerable occasions, and also provided of Singapore’s forgotten history to and-a-half years, I think that the future financial support for the Festival. In tie in with National Day. for Kristang in Singapore is probably general the state seems very supportive of significantly brighter. what we’re trying to do, and we’re happy to maintain and grow that relationship. ogmios.org Nov 2018 13

Tell me about your recent advertising What else have you done to take the With regard to finances, how do you campaigns. language mainstream? keep the project running?

We focus a lot on social media, since a big I promote the language as often as is Everything we do for Kodrah is done as target for us is to reach younger people by possible and natural in my other lives as a volunteers – the initiative is not-for-profit. word of mouth, and the other big target is trainee teacher and writer. Friends often Outside of the very large-scale Festival, to reach, well, everyone! Kodrah has very find me cutting cards and other material we actually run on pretty minimal funding active Facebook and Instagram accounts. for Kristang class in the National Institute for everything else, other than two micro- For example, we post a Word of the Week of Education canteen, and I teach Kristang grants from the Young Changemakers in Kristang, alongside media features and in the evenings during my own time, so Programme and the Awesome Foundation profiles, and photos of people just having I’ll sometimes come to class in NIE with in August 2016 when we were getting fun in class. This helps to attract people a huge black roller bag full of Kristang started. We’re big on community and who don’t have existing friends, family or things! On my own, I also translate and internal resource sustainability, and so ‘nodes’ in our Kodrah community. sing popular songs in Kristang, and post we try to minimise our dependence on these covers on YouTube. money as far as possible. A big part of But most of our publicity has actually this is venue support and sponsorship come from people who have attended Of course, we also talk a lot about Kristang from external partners, but for other the classes, enjoyed them, and then said – and in Kristang – on social media. Most things like class materials and games to family and friends: “I think you should of these things aren’t extraordinary, but resources, we try and reuse material, go for this.” I think that’s really why the it’s these little efforts in combination which and share content online or through classes are still growing (we’re on our cumulatively have translated into a lot of the Cloud wherever possible. tenth iteration of our beginner class, with interest in Kristang from those around me. 30 people) and why people continue to be interested in coming.

We advertise what we are: fun, serious and systematic. But [part of the appeal] is also that we’re laid-back about language-learning – learners check their own homework, if there even is homework – and sincere about our intentions. “We talk a lot about Kristang We love languages, and we love Kristang as well as the friendships – and in Kristang – and relationships it’s given us. on social media.” 14 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

“Many speakers remember when when the language was derided for being a patois with no grammar, and they were told not to

Kristang’s grammar likely has its speak it.” roots in Malay and possibly Hokkien, and features primarily Portuguese vocabulary.

Based on your experience with What have you found most surprising Kristang, what place do revitalisation about this experience? and documentation have in a project of this kind? Who else is involved? The level of interest in Kristang has been extremely surprising. I never expected our The Kodrah Core Team consists of four It’s totally dependent on context! Some little class — that first little class with just other individuals in addition to myself, languages have excellent documentation 12 people — to lead to this, two-and-a- all youth of varying ethnicities residing in in place, and some don’t; conversely, half years later. It’s all well and good that I Singapore and volunteering with Kodrah. some languages may have contexts very get so much publicity as the founder and well-suited to revitalisation, while for some director of Kodrah, but my planning would Andre D’Rozario is an artist and a full-time that context may be poorly understood have come to nothing if people hadn’t National Serviceman who will complete or unmapped. I don’t think any language shown up, and if people stop showing up, his NS in September 2018. Frances Loke is inherently suited to documentation or the initiative is dead! I want to recognise Wei is a research assistant at the National revitalisation; all other things remaining the effort and interest that everyone University of Singapore (NUS). Luís equal, every language would merit both. else has put in, and to acknowledge Morgado da Costa is a PhD student at The difference is context and what the how wonderful that has been, because Nanyang Technological University (NTU). community that speaks the language it shows that this is really something that And Fuad Johari is a civil servant, currently wants and needs. In Singapore, our people are coming together to do. That’s on overseas posting for three years, but Portuguese-Eurasian community wanted surprising in our current context, and it’s helping with all online material. adult classes and activities focused something that keeps me going — the on revitalisation. Documentation is fact that so many other friends (and family) Beyond the Core Team, we also have understood to be important, and we do are still going at it too. 11 of the remaining Kristang speakers do that too, but we focus our energies on in Singapore helping out as advisors in what the community has demonstrated class and in our other initiatives as our it desires, and that’s how Kodrah has Advisory Circle, and another 16 current evolved. Language is always about or former Kodrah students who help as people, and their relationships with the assistants and facilitators (we call them language in question. Understanding what Judanti or “Helpers”) in our classes. they want and need will help you decide Kristang is spoken more widely in Classes themselves have played host to what the language wants and needs. Malacca than in Singapore, but its about 500 people since March 2016, with reach is still limited in both cities. about 250 people completing 1A our first-stage module and 25 people now in 4A our seventh and penultimate stage. We teach three different modules in the same week; currently it’s 2A on Mondays at the National Library, 4A on Thursdays at the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre at Clarke Quay, and 1A on Fridays at Cairnhill Community Club. Our venue partners are multitudinous: other past supporters include the College of Alice & Peter Tan at the National University of Singapore, the Eurasian Association, the Substation and 10Square. ogmios.org Nov 2018 15

How has revitalisating Kristang Under what sorts of pressures are the impacted your relationship with family speakers of Kristang who have come and heritage? forward to be advisors?

Even though we try our best to avoid My relationships with all four of my I’ve also discovered very recently that making them uncomfortable, they often grandparents have really blossomed my great-great-great-grandfather, Edwin feel put on the spot — after all, they are since I first became interested in Kristang. Tessensohn (Grandpa’s great-grandfather), now cast in the role of expert, and so they I’ve learnt so much about all of them was a big patron of the Singapore Kristang feel enormous strain to be grammatically in trying to understand the language’s theatre scene, which existed for more “correct” all the time. place in Singapore’s history, and to than 40 years between 1892 and 1926, uncover my personal history with all the while my great-great-grandfather and Many speakers remember when the languages of Singapore which I can’t exclusively Kristang-speaking great-great- language was derided for being a speak. Understanding how all four of grandmother, Aloysius Thomas De Souza patois with no grammar, and they were them became the people they are today and Edith Klass, actually tried to revitalise told not to speak it. We also had a few through and alongside these languages branyo, a Kristang dance form, right distressing moments early in the initiative has been a tremendously powerful before World War II! when individuals were criticised online experience that I wish more people by people from outside Singapore for I know could share. So, it turns out Kristang goes very far not being fluent speakers. This would be back in my family, on both Grandma upsetting to anyone with a history with My Eurasian grandparents, Maureen and and Grandpa’s sides. It has been a real the language, but our speakers really have Peter Martens – Grandma and Grandpa privilege to share the experience of simply weathered all these storms and to me and to many others in Kodrah too! unfolding my family’s language history continue to contribute so much to Kodrah – were part of the first class in July 2016. with my grandparents. today. I respect and cherish them so much Now, seven modules later, Grandma and for that, and they really inspire me to keep Grandpa are in 4A alongside the other Any words of advice for linguists in a doing what I’m doing. pioneer students, reacquiring a language similar position to you? that my great-great grandmother spoke exclusively, but of which Grandma only I’m echoing the words of countless other remembers a little. insider linguists, but especially Darrell Kipp, whose book I read just before I My Chinese grandparents, Por Por started Kodrah: Don’t wait. There’s just so and Kong Kong, have also attended much to do. Kodrah classes, and represented Baba Malay and Hakka, of which they are native speakers, at the Languages of Singapore Trail at Festa. “I never expected our little class — that first little class with just 12 people — to lead to this.”

“Don’t wait. There’s just so much to do.” 16 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING TO DOCUMENT UNSERDEUTSCH BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

As of this year, there are only around 120 remaining speakers of Unserdeutsch, a Papua New Guinean creole. For linguists, this endangered language offers insight into the resultant culture of German colonisation of the Pacific region. We caught up with Craig Alan Volker, Adjunct Professor at The Cairns Institute in James Cook University, about a collaborative documentation project between speakers of the language and their descendants, and linguists based in both Germany and Papua New Guinea. (Source: www.srf.ch)

“The demise of Unserdeutsch is a sign of the successful integration of its

Unserdeutsch was established in the speakers into the German colonial era, when mixed- race children were placed in boarding wider Australian schools in Papua New Guinea society.”

Unserdeutsch – literally “Our German” – With its origin during the German colonial “Actually, its demise is a sign of the is spoken by only a few people in Papua era, when the Vunapope Catholic Mission successful integration of Unserdeutsch New Guinea and East Australia. near Rabaul began a boarding school for speakers into the wider Australian society,” mixed-race children whom they removed says Volker. “The language thrived when Unique among creole languages as from their mothers’ homes, Unserdeutsch racism segregated its speakers from the only known German-lexifier creole was the product of German’s use in the others.” language in the world, it is also unusual schools. During this era, a pidgin German in belonging to a small group of creole was developed among the children. As But despite its origin in the racist languages with their roots in boarding they grew up and married one another, treatment of Papua New Guineans under school dormitories, in having another this language came into use in their German colonial rule, Volker and his pidgin-creole – Tok Pisin – as its dominant households, and was thus creolised. The colleagues believe that, in addition to substrate language, and in being the first community remained socially isolated its importance to our knowledge about Papua New Guinean language to become because of the racial stratification of language contact, an understanding extinct as a result of mass emigration colonial society at that time. about the language and the community overseas. associated with it can contribute to Unserdeutsch and its use as an in-group discourses about identity in Papua New In spite of this, it has been almost totally language were important symbols of Guinea, Australia, and Germany. With neglected by the academic language identity, but as racial barriers went most of the language’s speakers aged community since it was first described, at down in the 1960s and access to both over 70, this is probably the last decade which point it was already endangered. Australian citizenship and Australian where meaningful documentation will be Professor Craig Volker, whose academic boarding schools became available, the possible. work focuses on Unserdeutsch, puts this language was no longer learned by most down in part to a “reluctance on the part young people. At Papua New Guinea In all three countries, Volker argues that of German academics to engage with the Independence, most of the community increasing ethnic mixture and multilingual colonial period.” opted for Australian citizenship. The environments require a reassessment majority of these people moved to of national identities, something Australia, where today almost all speakers already dealt with a century ago by the of Unserdeutsch live. grandparents of the current generation of Unserdeutsch speakers. ogmios.org Nov 2018 17

“German academics should lobby for the removal of the barriers to people from the former colonies to study in Germany.”

“Without contact to German academia Of the limited academic exploration of In particular, there has been no and the possibility to learn German, Papua Unserdeutsch and its speakers, research documentation about the current linguistic New Guineans are shut out from both their can also be seen in the context of the vitality of Unserdeutsch or the extent of rich cultural heritage housed in German growing interest in Europe at examining linguistic variation between basilect and museums and the many historical, legal, and analysing the heritage of German acrolect speech in this last generation and ethnographic materials written during colonialism. This is a welcome, if belated, of speakers. The current Unserdeutsch the German colonial period.” correction to Germany’s ‘colonial amnesia’. Documentation Project, started in 2014 at the University of Augsburg under the “One big problem is that Germanists “I know that Germans are not particularly leadership of Professor Péter Maitz, aims tend not to read English-language loved in many parts of the world. to record enough natural and structured journals and creole textbooks. Another is But in the former colonies in the Pacific, speech to enable the creation of a corpus that my [own published work] at that time they are quite highly regarded. of spoken Unserdeutsch that can be was in rather obscure publications that Could it be that there is something in the used for research by linguists in future were often overlooked in the pre-internet psyche of the German nation that rejects and enable the descendants of the last days.” Volker believes that it should not being admired and even loved, so that for generation of speakers to have contact be possible to study German as a major that very reason, the German government with the language of their ancestors. It is subject without some awareness of the avoids having any real interaction with by far the most comprehensive attempt to history of the German language its former colonies in the Pacific?” date to document the language and bring outside Central Europe, including Volker wonders. it to the attention of both linguists and the the former colonies. general public. The first, and for many years only, “There should be a set number of fieldwork with Unserdeutsch speakers To facilitate authentic speech and natural scholarships available to persons from was Volker’s 1982 University of conversation, speakers are interviewed the ex-colonies to study in Germany. In Queensland thesis, and the subsequent in pairs. The conversation focuses on the Germany itself, academics should lobby articles based on it. Until recently, speakers’ past lives in Papua New Guinea, for the barriers to people from the former there has been little interest shown in it so that information about the history of colonies to study in Germany be removed. other than analyses by creolists based the community can be gathered. These The requirement that Pacific Islanders on data from Volker’s fieldwork. taped conversations are supplemented travel to Singapore to hand-deliver visa by a questionnaire with stimuli in English applications is ridiculously expensive.” From time to time, articles in the media and Tok Pisin to be translated orally appeared about the language, and a into Unserdeutsch and recorded. The “German academics should also lobby for German masters student made a webpage stimuli have been chosen to elicit basic their universities to establish partnerships about the language in the late 1990s. As a vocabulary and important grammatical with universities in the former colonies. result, in 2009, a play about and partially variables. Finally the interviewer fills The project at the University of Bremen to in Unserdeutsch supported by the Goethe out a questionnaire about the linguistic translate and annotate German historical Institute brought the language to the biography and self-identity of the speaker. and ethnographic works about Papua New attention of a wider public in Germany. Guinea into English is exemplary.” 18 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

The data is used to build a corpus So, what kind of resources are most using EXMARaLDA and analysed using urgently required for the project? automated lemmatisation and part of speech-tagging. This corpus will be placed “Well, a time machine would be in the Institute for German Language; wonderful. But failing that, we have parts will also appear on the project’s fantastic people transcribing and analysing University of Augsburg webpage for easy but, of course, even more fantastic people access by the public and, especially, the would be great.” Unserdeutsch community. Funded by the German Research “A time machine The most important part of the project Foundation in an initial grant from is to record, transcribe, and analyse at October 2015 to September 2018, the would be least 50 hours of authentic Unserdeutsch project has already supported four field speech from as many different speakers trips to Papua New Guinea and Australia. wonderful. as possible. This is being done in Because Papua New Guinea and Australia consultation with the community and with are very expensive countries to travel But failing the aim of making as much of the material to and in, Volker also highlights the available to them and to other researchers requirement for “financial support to that, we have as possible. The analysis of these data will enable more travel to Papua New Guinea help in linguists understand the variation and Australia and for longer periods by my in the post-creole continuum, the effects colleagues in Europe who are doing most fantastic people of de-creolisation, and the influences of of the work.” Tok Pisin and English in this multilingual transcribing community. The researchers hope that Given that the only fluent speakers are the project will stimulate the production all over the age of 60, revitalisation and analysing, of both academic publications aimed will be possible only if there is enough at linguists, and more popular works of documentation – currently the focus is and even more interest to the Unserdeutsch community on building the corpus. “Whether there itself and the general public in Papua New should be revitalisation or not is a matter fantastic people Guinea, Australia, and Europe. for the community itself to decide, not outside linguists,” says Volker. “There would be great.” is much nostalgia for the loss of the language, but no real efforts to start using the language more with the very young.”

Many speakers of Unserdeutsch reportedly also use English, Standard German, and Tok Pisin.

(Source: deutschland.de via H. Wilhelmy – Neuguinea “Unserdeutsch”) ogmios.org Nov 2018 19

“Documentation alone has already done much to foster cohesion within the community and an awareness of what a unique history they share.”

Unserdeutsch originated in the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain.

As is often the case with creole languages “Whether the language should be spoken by socially marginalised groups, revived is a matter for the community to Unserdeutsch speakers in the past have discuss. As yet they have not done so. tended to be reluctant to share their Certainly, being better-known and more language with outsiders or sometimes self-aware of their past is important for even to acknowledge its existence. This Although as yet, there is still limited action members of the group and for both Papua was especially true in the presence of on the part of the language community New Guinean and Australian societies. German speakers from Europe. to revitalise Unserdeutsch, Volker Documentation alone has already done believes that this would be achievable, much to foster cohesion within the Perhaps because of the growing ideology although it would require enormous community and an awareness of what a of multiculturalism in Australia and effort. “Speakers do not live in one unique history they share.” individual speakers’ successful assimilation neighbourhood and many, probably most, into broader Australian society, attitudes have married outside the community. have changed remarkably in the past These are welcome signs of their decade, and members of the community successful integration and a willingness have been particularly open and of mainstream Australian society to try to supportive of the project. They are overcome its racist past.” Papua New Guinea was colonised by enthusiastic users of an Unserdeutsch Germans in the 19th Century – the Facebook page with more than 300 earliest Germans in the South Pacific members, “Unserdeutsch: The Creole are speculated to have been sailors German of Vunapope / Papua New for the Dutch East India Company. Guinea”, originally set up by the University of Augsburg team, and have helped the team meet many more speakers and semi-speakers than were originally thought to exist. In some cases this has led to reunions among people who grew up in New Britain together but who had lost contact after moving to Australia. A number have expressed more positive feelings about their language as a result of participation in the project and seeing respectful academic works written about it, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of increased linguistic and cultural confidence. Several grandparents have even expressed an interest in speaking Unserdeutsch with their young grandchildren. 20 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

DIGITAL ATLAS OF ENDANGERED SCRIPTS TO LAUNCH IN EARLY 2019

- Tim Brookes

Tim Brookes has been carving endangered alphabets since 2010, to promote interest in endangered writing systems and their associated “Once I started cultural identities. meeting people The Endangered Alphabets Project grew Why is this important? Because by from cultures out of my stumbling on Omniglot.com in definition, we write what seems most 2009, and realising that fully a third of the important, what most needs to be whose scripts world’s writing systems were in danger: not recorded. When a culture (almost always taught in schools, denied official status, a minority or indigenous culture) chooses I had been and in some cases actively suppressed or is forced to adopt another writing or marginalised. Even though I had no system, everything they have seen as carving, I was training in linguistics or anthropology (or being valuable enough to be written art or woodwork!) I was so fascinated by – sacred texts, poems, personal struck by the these unfamiliar scripts I decided to start correspondence, legal documents, carving pieces of text – sayings, words, family recipes, the collective experience, even individual letters – as a way of wisdom and identity of a people – urgency of the preserving them. Once I started meeting becomes incomprehensible within two people from cultures whose scripts I had generations, and is lost. Moreover, situation.” been carving, I was struck by the urgency denying members of a culture the right of the situation and became increasingly to read, write and speak in their mother activist. So, now in addition to carving, tongue defines them as inferior and I create (and in some cases publish) unimportant, and leaves them vulnerable, endangered alphabets educational marginalised, and open to abuse. Never one to shy away from a challenge, materials, games, even furniture. I’m currently in the process of creating the And now this Atlas. When I started the Endangered Alphabets, world’s first digital atlas of indigenous and I had heard of the sterling work being minority writing systems. When I give talks on the Endangered done in researching and documenting Alphabets Project, everyone wants to endangered languages, and I assumed the Here’s why. More than a third of the know more about the scripts I carve, same was happening with scripts. It was world’s writing systems are endangered their origins, the cultures that use them, actually David Crystal who told me, to my – not taught in schools, lacking official the regions of the world where they are surprise, that script loss was hardly being status, readable only to an ageing to be found, and what can be done to studied at all. I’m not sure why. generation. And it is a disaster for a help. But there’s one major problem: people to lose the alphabet in which there simply is no one source for everything of importance to that culture such information. And as long as this has been written, and which will become information remains scattered and hard incomprehensible to future generations. to find, the crisis will continue. ogmios.org Nov 2018 21

Endangered Alphabets works with individuals and organisations who want to preserve their linguistic heritage. It’s very hard to know if and when you’re doing any good. The areas where I’ve seen signs of positive outcomes are those where I’m collaborating with individuals “When a culture A few years ago I wrote a book about and groups who are already working the global campaign to eradicate polio, actively to preserve or revive their mother is forced to and one of the central questions was this: languages, such as the ourgoldenhour.org more money, time and personnel have project in Bangladesh and the Abenaki in adopt another been devoted to eradicating polio than Vermont. I’m only getting on a train that any other collective enterprise in human is already moving, and even though I may writing system, history. Why hasn’t it succeeded? There make suggestions, the people who are are many answers to that question, but trying to revive their own cultures are the everything what interests me most is the tone of ones who know what methods--children’s the question: bewildered, frustrated. It books? video tutorials? an app? a wiki they have seen assumes that money plus good intentions dictionary?--may work best. should equal success—whereas once you as valuable get out into the developing world where My aim is to create an interactive digital polio is still at large, people may quite world atlas, based on Google Maps, with enough to be reasonably have very different priorities. pins corresponding to the locations of cultures with endangered scripts. Click This is to say that no matter how sound on a pin, and it will identify the script in a written becomes our intentions and our reasoning, those small thumbnail. Click on the thumbnail, of us who are in the privileged position and a page about that script will open incomprehensible of either documenting or working toward up, with links to images, text, and video. revitalisation may not be best placed to The Atlas allows anyone to see at a within two make that call. It’s entirely possible that glance the extent of the crisis: it’s right those resources should not go toward there scattered across the world. I intend generations, either revitalisation or documentation, to let visitors to the site know about the but toward providing a reliable supply language and script – its history, its current and is lost.” of clean water. use, the reasons why it is endangered, and, above all, what efforts are under way to preserve or revive it.

Endangered Alphabets also helps to produce educational tools, teach endangered written languages, and advocates for the cause on social media and in audiovisual content. 22 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

But there’s also another value I’m really I love a challenge, and I’m also rather hoping will take off. Someone who is from impatient, so I am barreling into the an indigenous or minority or indigenous project first and working on raising the culture can visit the Atlas and see how funding next:. We already have the and what their counterparts across the basics of the platform created and have world, who are working hard to revive a substantial chunk of research done – their language and cultural identity, are enough to show, to my surprise, that doing. Maybe they’ve developed a wiki- across much of the world the movement based dictionary. Maybe they’ve created to preserve traditional cultures and their a language-learning app. Maybe they’re languages has more energy than putting video language lessons online — I thought, and certainly far more than “The Atlas allows or other, even more creative ideas. when I started this project nearly a decade ago. I aim to launch the Atlas anyone to see My hope is that they’ll say, “Hey, there’s on January 1, 2019 — the UN Year this organisation in Canada that’s writing of Indigenous Languages. at a glance the and publishing children’s books in indigenous languages – and here’s one in Bangladesh doing the same thing. How extent of the did they do that? Where did they get the funds? How are they using these books? crisis: it’s right Is it working?” And they can contact and there scattered potentially help each other. across the world.”

Endangered Alphabets works worldwide, and has been involved in more than 15 projects to date. This map shows the countries where endangered alphabets are found, and where the Endangered Alphabets Project has worked. ogmios.org Nov 2018 23

IN THE MEDIA - Ben Griffiths

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY AWARDED OVER £400,000 TO SUPPORT ENDANGERED CAUCASIAN LANGUAGES

“We are delighted to have received Natasha Meredith reports on the this award, which will help further our awarding of £415,000 from the AHRC work examining linguistic diversity in (the UK government’s Arts and Humanities Daghestan. If more work is not done funding body) to the University of Surrey in maintaining minority language use, to work on Endangered Languages in there is a danger that they will cease the Caucasus region. to be spoken and the linguistic and cultural knowledge of large groups of The project will investigate the rare people will be effectively lost. Examining linguistic phenomenon of ‘external ‘external agreement’ and understanding agreement’, which, while rare in the its complexities will help us better rest of the world, is found in 17 understand what is possible in human languages of the Nakh-Daghestanian language, whilst supporting endangered family of languages in the Caucasus. languages and increasing awareness of Building on work already done on the their special properties.” Archi language, the endeavour will help to document two other endangered The beautiful Caucasus region boasts languages in the region, Andi (5,800 a higher level of linguistic diversity speakers) and Rutul (30,000 speakers). than either neighbouring Europe or Dr Oliver Bond, Senior Lecturer in SOURCE: the Middle East. Linguistics at the University of Surrey, said: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/ (Source: Wikipedia) university-surrey-awarded-over- ps400000-support-endangered- caucasian-languages

LINGUIST ENCOURAGES PUSH TOWARDS SAVING ENDANGERED LANGUAGES

Sydney Edwards of nebraska.tv reports on Megan Hartman, a linguist at UNK who linguist David Harrison’s philosophy studies dead languages including Latin, on why saving endangered languages says that when languages die, many just is so important. evolve into something else.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney has “They are integrated into a society where held a presentation to explain why it is another language is being spoken and if important to save endangered languages. that other language is prominent enough, This was followed by a media report. then a lot of those speakers, especially the Linguistics professor David Harrison, who next generation, will say ‘oh well we don’t travels the world working with villages need to speak that, our parents’ language, and towns to document endangered it’s not useful. We’re gonna speak this new languages, estimates over half of today’s language,” said Hartman. languages are in danger of going extinct and argues that preserving linguistic diversity is as important as preserving biodiversity for the future of humankind. This is because languages contain information about the planet, plants, animals and human ingenuity which would be forever lost if these languages die. SOURCE: National Geographic Professor David Harrison 24 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

NEW YORK: THE MOST LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE PLACE IN THE WORLD

Joanie Faletto of curiosity.com reports on the incredible linguistic diversity to be Why, then, is such diversity to be found found in one of the most famous cities in here? It is because the city of the Statue the world. of Liberty has been the point of arrival for countless thousands of immigrants According to the Endangered Language to the United States. As a result, you can Alliance (ELA), there are an astounding now hear languages ranging from Greek 800 languages spoken in New York City, to Indonesian, and from Russian with some 138 found in Queens borough to Minangkabau in the city. In fact, alone. However, Daniel Kaufman, according to 2015 Census data, adjunct professor of linguistics at more than half of the Queens population Graduate Center of the City University over five years old spoke a language other of New York, estimates that many of these than English at home. languages will not survive the next two or three decades.

New York: Bastion of linguistic diversity. SOURCE: https://curiosity.com/topics/more- (Source: tripadvisor.com) languages-are-spoken-in-this- american-place-than-anywhere-on- earth-curiosity/

BORA PEOPLE OF THE AMAZON MIMIC MELODY AND RHYTHM OF THEIR “In this model, only two pitches are used LANGUAGE USING DRUMS and each beat corresponds to a syllable of a corresponding phrase of spoken Bora. The announcements contain on average 15 words and 60 drum beats.”

The Boras use drummed Bora to mimic The Max Planck Institute reports on the tone and rhythm of their spoken the Bora tribe’s innovative method for language and to elaborate Bora phrases in communication over long distances. order to overcome remaining ambiguities.

In the Amazon and without a mobile “Rhythm turns out to be crucial for phone, how can you communicate with distinguishing words in drummed Bora”, somebody far away in the Amazon, says Seifart. “There are four rhythmic without a mobile phone? By mimicking units encoded in the length of pauses your language using a musical instrument! between beats. These units correspond While the human voice can only reach to vowel-to-vowel intervals with different about 200 metres, the Bora use numbers of consonants and vowel lengths. manguaré drums - pairs of wooden The two phonological tones represented slit drums traditionally carved from in drummed speech encode only a single logs - to extend this by a factor few lexical contrasts. Rhythm therefore of 100, to ask someone to bring or appears to crucially contribute to the do something, announce the arrival intelligibility of drummed Bora.” of visitors or even the result of non- alcoholic drinking competitions.

A Bora man communicating Frank Seifart of the former Department with another member of his of Linguistics at the Max Planck Institute tribe using manguaré drums. for Evolutionary Anthropology says that: (Source: Gaiamedia/Aexcram). SOURCE: https://www.mpg.de/12017337/ drummed-speech-rhythm ogmios.org Nov 2018 25

THE FAKE AYAPANECO MARKETING CAMPAIGN In reality, linguists have been working for close to a decade to write a dictionary for Ayapenco, and in 2008 – six years steemit.com reports on a fake before the Vodafone advert – the marketing campaign. Mexican government paid Velazquez to teach children Ayapeneco, which he did In 2014, media outlets began covering alongside his son and four other speakers. the “tragic tale” of the two last speakers of Ayapaneco, an endangered language Ayapaneco is believed to be close to from the Mexican state of Tabasco. It was 600 years old, a few centuries short of reported that Manuel Segovia and Isidro the advert’s assertions, and has existed Velazquez refused to speak to each other as a regional language surrounded by over a forgotten argument, but thanks to groups of more politically powerful and German telecom giant Vodafone, they widespread languages like those of the reconciled and agreed to help preserve Mayans, Aztecs, and Spanish. Linguist the language. According to an advert they Jhonnatan Rengel argues the language released, a new school was constructed in has a unique beauty to it, with phrases the state of Tabasco in Mexico where the like chük mbüünye translating to “the two men would pass on their language to house of the thunder,” a poetic way the younger generation. of saying “cloud”.

However, this was later revealed to The remaining speakers now teach many be a case of false information. In truth of the city’s youth about the language, there was no such rift, and there are even holding speech contests at festivals. approximately 15 remaining speakers of Ayapaneco. According to Segovia and Velazquez, the agency paid them to appear in the commercial and paid the Vodafone’s fake other speakers to stay out of it. Rather marketing campaign. than constructing a new school house, the SOURCE: https://steemit.com/didyouknow/@ (Source: creativity-online.com) company simply painted the old one. anthonyjek/did-you-know-the- fake-marketing-campaign-that- endangered-a-language

CANADIAN SINGER The inspiration for the project came PROMOTES WOLASTOQ from his degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax, where he’d switched from LANGUAGE studying music to anthropological research on his community.

Fascinated with the content of the recordings, he hopes listeners can have David Friend of The Canadian Press a similar connection with these voices reports on a musical attempt to draw from the past, and that his album will attention to the fading language. spark inspiration for further projects on the Gatineau archive and highlight the “Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa” is an contributions of indigenous women. ambitious 11-track project where Jeremy Dutcher duets with the voices found “There are so many stories that need to on the wax cylinders of the Canadian come forward, and I’d like to think that I’m Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec uniquely positioned to tell them,” in order to reinvigorate Wolastoq, which he says. “I get so much from doing is spoken in the Tobique First Nation, this stuff, and it brings me to a closer one of six Wolastoqiyik reserves in understanding of who I am and where I fit. New Brunswick. We should all be so lucky to have that kind of work.” According to recent census data, the language is spoken by only 305 people, while only 55 people said they speak it as a primary language at home.

“When we lose them, we also lose their Jeremy Dutcher, singer entire world view - all the songs and words they know and the jokes they carry,” and Wolastoq promoter. SOURCE: (Source: Chris Young / Dutcher says.“There’s an incredible sense https://nationalpost.com/pmn/ The Canadian Press). of urgency.” news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/ jeremy-dutcher-reaches-across-a- century-to-connect-with-wolastoq- language 26 Nov 2018 ogmios.org WHAT BREXIT MEANS FOR MINORITY LANGUAGES to less support, and especially less money, for education, promotion and cultural aspects, and this is particularly worrying because minority UK languages are found Find out our take on Page 30 in areas of fragile economic status (Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh). Maurice Smith of The New European reports on why leaving the EU will The EU currently funds several minority endanger minority languages. language-speaking areas, but the loss of this due to Brexit could have catastrophic The state of the languages of the British consequences. Furthermore, the removal Isles has always fluctuated with time. of EU citizenship for immigrants However, Brexit could potentially be will leave them: the biggest threat of all. The situation is particularly fragile in Ireland, where “at the mercy of governments that have the status of Irish Gaelic is politically shown neither the interest nor the desire sensitive – in recent months, the two to protect and promote the rights of main parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, speakers of their nations and regions’ have come into conflict over the latter’s language, and have throughout much insistence that Irish become the devolved of our shared history conducted government’s second official language. aggressive policies designed to Furthermore, Scots Gaelic and Welsh have eradicate our languages”. become increasingly important in terms of preservation, education and broadcasting Smith suggests that only English is investment. However, as Scotland expected to survive Brexit unscathed – but moves towards another referendum on since it is being proposed that French or independence, we can expect more German be adopted as the lingua franca conflict on this issue. of the EU, it seems it will lose some of its status, even if the fact that it is the Minority languages, and others such as official language of Malta and Ireland will Cornish, have all benefited from UK and guarantee its maintenance as one official devolved government support, but that language of many. has been reinforced by their status as recognised minority languages within the EU. The fear is that Brexit will lead SOURCE: https://www.theneweuropean. co.uk/culture/tongue-twisting- what-brexit-means-for-minority- languages-1-4946477

TAIWAN PLANS TO The shift illustrates the growing cultural PUT TAIWANESE ON differences between Taiwan and China. PAR WITH MANDARIN In the latter, Mandarin is the only national language, and is promoted because minority languages are seen by the Communist Party as interfering with the larger goals of national sovereignty and cultural unification which Stalin advocated. Nikhil Sonnad of Quartz reports on Taiwan’s attempt to increase For example, this can be seen with linguistic inclusivity. the Tibetan language, which is being replaced in classrooms by Mandarin. Taiwanese is widespread in Taiwan; in fact, This is because the Chinese state over 80% of the population speaks it at perceives minority languages as home. Yet historically, it has not had equal something which should be treated status with Mandarin, which was declared more as artefacts in museums, and the dominant language of the island in is not concerned with their preservation 1940 when the Kuomintang party, fleeing as phenomena valuable in themselves. from the Chinese Communists, arrived. Taiwan is moving in a direction divergent to China by following a path towards If passed, the new rule would allow areas pluralistic democracy – a move which with large numbers of Taiwanese speakers most likely has political motivations as a to use it in official documents and legal rebuff to China’s approach to language. affairs. The government will also have be obliged to teach Taiwanese and other indigenous languages in schools, and develop writing systems and dictionaries The Taiwanese language, in these languages. will soon have equal status to Mandarin in Taiwan. SOURCE: https://qz.com/1271795/ taiwan-china-language-taiwans- language-policy-is-showing-china- what-it-means-to-be-a-modern- inclusive-country/ ogmios.org Nov 2018 27

FINNISH UNDER Cases have been reported of Finnish- THREAT IN SWEDEN speaking children in Sweden being the target of bullying and being told by teachers not to speak their mother tongue, whilst Finnish teachers have suffered discrimination. Sweden’s other four minority languages, Sami, Roma, Yiddish and Meänkieli, appear to be in an even worse shape, since municipalities Frederika Fellman, Liliia Makashova have “almost completely failed” and Viktoriia Zhuhan from The Guardian to apply minority language policy report on how Sweden Finns are losing across the country. their language. “I do not want to move my daughter to Comprising 7% of the Swedish population, Finland for her to go to Finnish-language the Sverigefinnar are, according to pre-school, but that’s exactly what I Sari Pesonen of the Institute of Slavic have to do today if nothing changes and Baltic languages at Stockholm fast,” wrote Sonja Jakobsson, under an University, in “severe danger” of losing online petition in the summer calling on their language. “The signals we get from Gothenburg council to deliver on bilingual teachers, for example, they tell us that schooling rights. the situation is bad. Something needs to be done, and quickly.” The figures “Swedish-speaking people have an confirm this fear – of approximately obvious place in Finnish society and are 6,000 children entitled to Finnish mother given clear Swedish-language schooling tongue education in Gothenburg alone, in Finland – why is it not the same only 177 are receiving it. for Finns here?”

Gothenburg, Sweden: Home SOURCE: to a dwindling population of https://www.theguardian.com/ Finnish-speaking Swedes. world/2018/mar/13/swedens-finns- fear-minority-language-rights-are- (Photograph: Beatrice Törnros) under-threat

LANGUAGE TAKES ON A POLITICAL DIMENSION AGAIN IN EX-SOVIET COUNTRIES These developments are a major reversal of policies put in place after the fall of Communism in ex-Soviet countries, when tensions between majorities and Frank Elbers of muftah.org reports on minorities were high due to certain recent linguistic developments in Latvia elements of the latter enjoying special and Ukraine. privileges during Communist rule. These policies were implemented through Latvia recently amended its education the Oslo Recommendations, established law in order to remove Russian language 20 years ago by the OSCE in order to teaching in its bilingual Russian-Latvian increase the chances of joining institutions curriculum by 2021, despite protests by such as the Council of Europe, NATO and several pro-Russian organisations, and the the EU – but more than 25 years later, fact that there are 641,000 Russians in the nationalist and anti-Russian sentiment Latvian capital, Riga. seem to have reduced the perceived importance of multilingual, minority Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the parliament education in these countries. has introduced an education law which makes Ukranian the primary language in all public secondary schools and restricted the teaching of minority languages such as Hungarian, Polish and Romanian. This was not received well by the Council Riga and Kiev, capitals of two of Europe, which concluded that “the ex-Soviet countries where minority strong domestic and international criticism languages are being eroded. drawn especially by the provisions SOURCE: (Images: nordicchoicehotels.com / https://muftah.org/post-soviet- reducing the scope of education in language-politics/ standard.co.uk) minority languages seems justified.” 28 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

The geographical region generally known as the British Isles has long been the topic a semantic disagreement. Where many inhabitants accept the title as politically neutral – especially in Great Britain – the name is hotly contested by some in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Because of the ongoing dispute, for the purposes of this feature, the region is referred to as the Anglo-Celtic Isles. However, we are aware of other proposed reclassifications for the region, and are open to all opinions on the subject! Email [email protected] to have your say on the naming dispute.

SPOTLIGHT: ANGLO-CELTIC ISLES ogmios.org Nov 2018 29 MY NATIVE LANGUAGE, WELSH, IS DYING AS I WRITE. A LINGERING DEATH ADMITTEDLY. - Ian Jones I am one of the founders of an However, you know all this, and better Above all, in my view, it’s about getting international committee about cities, than I do. What I have been doing, language higher up on the agenda. in Moscow in 2005. It’s one of 30 because of my position in ICOM and my Both ICOM and UNESCO have new, international committees of the contacts in UNESCO (one of whom has and quite exceptional people in charge, International Council of Museums (ICOM) - been responsible for World Heritage sites), and can be receptive. a partner of UNESCO. Both organisations is trying to raise awareness. are, to quote from ICOM’s manifesto: There are many possibilities: another What I would like ultimately is for “committed to the promotion and ICOM international committee is one languages to be given the same status protection of natural and cultural (it does not have to be about something as tangible objects, from the Sistine heritage, present and future, tangible like mine), or a standing Chapel to the Great Barrier Reef. tangible and intangible.” committee, of which there are a number We have rightly been enraged with the in ICOM – I’m the vice-chair of one which destruction of Palmyra and other ancient To me, the greatest intangible heritage funds ICOM’s international bodies and I’d cities and artefacts. Yet, a language dies is language, that which defines us as love to fund one on languages. Though and we pass by on the other side. human beings. To quote Irina Bukova, whether a committee is the right way to the former UNESCO Director General: go about things, I am not so sure. The Welsh for snow is “eira”, which is far “Language loss entails an more evocative to me, but maybe not impoverishment of humanity.” Another possibility is the ICOM Red List to a non-Welsh speaker. Difference is of Cultural Objects at Risk. It does great everything, it helps make us human. Neither ICOM nor UNESCO has work in raising awareness, identifying I think that is as good a reason as any for neglected our intangible heritage. objects at risk and alerting those who preserving language. Languages are the There is, for example, ICOM’s can actually do something. In my view, a ultimate exercise in diversity. International Journal of Intangible Red List of endangered languages could, heritage. It’s admirable, though with perhaps, be effective, as a complement So, finally, I am asking my colleagues limited coverage of languages, as if and continuing update of UNESCO’s Atlas. in UNESCO and ICOM to put languages saving some craft tradition is more Documenting languages before they die much higher up on the agenda. It can important than saving the language of has its merits, but a language only exits be done and we can work out the steps. those who preserve the tradition. There if it is spoken out there in the streets. It’s Both organisations could help are various conventions and statements not an artefact which can be put in a glass complement the great work from UNESCO and ICOM, and of course, case. The Red List can be a spur to action. of the Foundation. more specifically, there is UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, which makes for enlightening, if alarming reading. Then there is the work of other agencies such as the Council of Europe. There are also one or two small museums devoted to languages. 30 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

IS BREXIT BAD NEWS FOR BRITAIN’S MINORITY LANGUAGES?

A call for a localised approach to minority languages in post-Brexit Britain.

“We would be at the mercy of governments that have throughout much of our shared history conducted aggressive language policies designed to eradicate our languages.” The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages was adopted in (Source: Council 1992 under the Council of Europe of Europe)

When compared to trade deals and Rather than through the EU, however, Treaties aside, it is also true that Britain worker rights, minority language issues the charter is made through the Council has allocated significant European project appear to be considerably lower than of Europe, an international organisation funding to some of its minority languages other conversations on the negotiating with 47 member states, working to uphold under EU membership. In 2016, an open agenda for the United Kingdom’s exit of human rights in Europe. The Council of letter backed by the European Language the European Union. Europe enforces the European Convention Equality Network expressed concerns that on Human Rights, a treaty in which Prime minority language speakers are already With 11 languages indigenous to the Minister Theresa May agreed to keep the “often overlooked by Government policy UK inclusive of sign languages, there UK earlier this year. Because the European makers,” opposing the fact that they is justifiable concern among minority Charter for Regional and Minority had been neglected so far in the Brexit language communities that Brexit might Languages is not directly associated with debate. undo the positive steps made toward the EU, a Brexit thankfully does not render supporting these languages over the the agreement void. The group argues that “the European last decades. And while the Crown Union Lisbon Treaty and the attached dependencies never have been part of Whether Brexit will have negative Charter of Fundamental Rights means that the EU, Britain’s exit from the EU may consequences for British minority respect for linguistic and cultural diversity still have a knock-on effect on their three languages and other human rights and the prohibition of discrimination on indigenous languages. Political upheaval obligations of the UK remains to be the grounds of language is European could lead to Britain distancing itself seen.“At one time it didn’t look like it, Union primary law,” with concerns that from European agreements intended to given that the antagonism was towards following Brexit, minority language groups protect languages for which the country the European Court of Justice in in the UK will “be excluded from the rights is responsible. In particular, the European Luxembourg and not to the European shared by European citizens.” Charter for Regional and Minority Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg,” Languages – signed by the UK in 2001 says Professor Matthew MacIver, The letter continues: “We would – pledges to promote seven languages, a member of the Committee of Experts furthermore be at the mercy of inclusive of Manx, in education and the at the European Charter for Regional governments that have shown neither media. A departure from the treaty could or Minority Languages. “Our work in the interest nor the desire to protect and be disastrous for languages indigenous to minority languages relates to the latter. promote the rights of speakers of our the UK and the Crown dependencies. But, as the process has developed, nations and regions’ languages, and have it is almost impossible to predict what throughout much of our shared history will eventually happen.” conducted aggressive language policies designed to eradicate our languages. ogmios.org Nov 2018 31

“Neither would we have access to Potential loss of the monetary benefits European language project funding, to an EU membership is only the tip which would be detrimental to non- of the iceberg when it comes to the governmental and educational bodies. consequences of Brexit for minority Leaving would impede our young people’s languages. Living in a sovereign country prospects and employability; European with a long history of minority language funding has offered vital investment for oppression, many non-English nationals “People still many of our communities’ economies. The have felt their cultural interests were EU has been, and can be further still, a best represented under EU membership. feel a sense great bastion of hope for the minoritised Anti-Irish sentiment – or Hibernophobia languages of our countries. – was rife throughout much of the last of identity to millennium, and is documented as early “At no point under the current Brexit as the 12th century. And discriminatory and a feeling debate has there been any informed practices in education, like the Welsh deliberation concerning the future of Not – an object teachers passed between the lesser used indigenous languages children caught speaking Welsh at school, of protection of these islands. We fear that Brexit the last of whom would be punished – would lead to an insecure future for our contributed to the language’s decline. towards communities, as the UK Government’s recent abolition of funding for the Cornish their mother language demonstrates. Being a part of a heterogeneous European Union languages.” with its robust congregation of minority and majority cultures allows for a better understanding and protection of our own languages.”

(Source: Raul Mee)

Prime Minister Theresa May has been working toward a deal for Britain’s imminent departure from the European Union since July 2016. 32 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

“Recognition of Gaelige is at the very heart of Brexit negotiations.”

MEPs Martina Anderson and Liadh Ní Riada calling for an Irish Language Act at the European Parliament in Brussels.

(Source: Sinn Féin)

And alongside its murky past as the bring opportunity for strengthening But, while this approach might work in language of colonialism, the technological growth of minority languages, but only the areas that voted to leave the EU, revolution supporting English as history’s if there are strong voices pushing for what about regions that did not vote for most widely-accessible lingua franca is their prioritisation in Westminster during Brexit, and whose people have reaped of course having an undeniable impact the process. An individualised approach the benefits of an EU membership? on minority languages, which are falling for every affected minority language – Unable to vote in the election due to out of use at an unprecedented rate matching, or improving upon, the support their non-membership of the EU, Crown worldwide. “We have, of course, specific that minority languages have received dependency language communities problems in the UK, given that English while the UK has been part of the EU – will are at the mercy of mainland policy. is now the international language. support these areas. In order to satisfy Similarly, Scotland – whose Gaelic has English can be seen as the great enemy minority language speakers, the issue will received significant government funding of minority languages.” says MacIver. likely need to be brought to the forefront under EU membership – voted with an And with three-quarters of the British of the Brexit agenda, and councils will overwhelming majority to remain. “In population unable to confidently speak have to exploit the opportunities a more Scotland, there has been huge political any language other than English, concerns localised governing force can bring. support from all parties over the years from minority language groups that their to Gaelic, my own mother tongue,” languages will lose further support are not Given the “devolved nature of the UK”, MacIver explains. “To a great extent, unfounded. “Nevertheless, our minority MacIver says it is difficult to comment that can also be said of Welsh.” Whether languages are still alive in the UK and it specifically on the attitude of the regional parties are in support of or in is encouraging to see the efforts that are Westminster Government, although he opposition to Brexit, there is little doubt presently being made in Cornwall and suspects “that activists in Cornwall and that promotion of indigenous languages the Isle of Man to keep Cornish and Manx the Isle of Man would argue that they in all affected areas will demonstrate alive. People still feel a sense of identity to are not as well-served and supported by governmental respect for cultural heritage and a feeling of protection towards their Westminster as Welsh and Gaelic are in and history. mother languages.” Wales and Scotland.” Despite limited discussion in mainstream Despite fears of project funding cuts, Tackling EU bureaucracy could offer media regarding the impact of Brexit on Brexit may eventually lead to the a more individuated approach to the most minority languages, the urgent affair reinforcement of individual identities in different minority languages in the of the Irish language in Northern Ireland Islands of the North Atlantic, amid the UK. In Cornwall, the EU’s oft-criticised has been widely reported. With 58% of potential localisation of government bumbledom is just one reason cited for the Northern Irish voters in support of policies. Indeed, it’s possible the ‘great the overwhelming vote to exit the EU. remaining in the EU, the region is in a repeal’ of European legislation could And, with the 2016 cuts for government precarious position with regard to the support of the Cornish language in mind, potential impact of Brexit on the Good strongly promoting the relevant minority Friday Agreement. Two decades on, languages in areas with populations that Northern Ireland remains a divided society, report feeling culturally hegemonised – and a hard Brexit could have serious as part of a larger effort to support the implications for the people living there. individual needs of local cultures – might support a Brexit that simultaneously satisfies the voters and instils increased trust in the governing bodies. ogmios.org Nov 2018 33

Many people in the region report feeling “The Government will introduce an Irish It seems that the only thing certain that Brexit demonstrates just how out-of- Language Act reflecting on the experience in the Brexit debate is that nothing is touch British policy is with Northern Irish of Wales and Ireland and work with the certain. However, the consequences for issues, and regional support for an Irish incoming Executive to enhance and endangered languages may not be as reunification is not insignificant, but is protect the development of the Irish disastrous as many predict. There is no currently not supported by a majority. In language.” doubt that the economic benefits of EU the 2007 Northern Ireland Life and Times membership for minority languages will Survey, 36% of respondents identified However, in 2017, DUP member Edwin be missed. Despite this, there’s room for as ethnically Irish, but as only a small Poots asserted that “The DUP at no point governing bodies to step up and take minority of native Gaelige speakers has ever agreed to establish an Irish local cultural needs seriously, including make up the general population there, at Language Act with the UK government, specific linguistic ones, and make sure present the use of the Irish language in with the Irish government, with Sinn that those who feel unheard are listened still banned in courts. The Irish language is Féin or anybody else.” And indeed, the to more carefully in the future.“My own just one aspect of a much more complex agreement was made with the British private view is that the UK will continue to conversation, and has as a result become government, rather than the DUP, and honour its Human Rights commitments,” highly politicised. “[It is] in a difficult subsequent legislation is at odds with it. MacIver tells me. “Some of the signatories position at the moment,” says MacIver. “In Following the St Andrews Agreement, of the Charter for Regional and Minority fact, it is one of the real issues in the Brexit the British government legislated a Languages are not members of the negotiations. Recognition of Gaelige is at language strategy, but did not pursue EU. So, there would not be anything the very heart of Brexit negotiations.” the Irish Language Act any further. With unusual about the UK continuing with its Irish language promotional organisation commitments to minority languages in The current language controversy arose Conradh na Gaeilge calling on the British particular and to human rights in general.” from the 2006 St Andrews Agreement, government to fulfil its obligations to in which the Democratic Unionist Party implement an Irish language act earlier While strong language policies won’t and Sinn Féin agreed to terms for this year, the language still represents a reconcile Britain’s history of oppressing the introduction of a power-sharing major cause of political stalemate in the its non-English communities, a future government in Northern Ireland. At Brexit debate in Northern Ireland. UK could not be unified without this time, the two parties discussed an taking into account the importance of Irish Language Act, and a section of the maintaining these languages and cultures. agreement states: “The contribution of these languages to any society is immense. They all carry a history, a literature, a way of life and a heritage that can only enrich our world. Monolingualism is not the road to a diverse and well-rounded society,” According to MacIver, recognition of says MacIver. the Irish language is one of the key issues in the Brexit debate.

“There would not be anything unusual about the UK continuing with its commitments to minority languages in particular and to human rights in general.” 34 Nov 2018 ogmios.org

languages since 1996 languages Foundation for Supporting the world’s threatened threatened Supporting the world’s Endangered Languages Endangered www.ogmios.org Foundation for 129 High St., Hungerford RG17 0DL England Hungerford 129 High St., Endangered Languages Endangered Miriwoong speaker Minnie Lumia telling a dreamtime story about the Spillway area to Agnes Miriwoong Minnie Lumia telling a dreamtime story speaker area to about the Spillway Christina Murmann Photograph: Armstrong and others. Asmat, Akram, Hayat, Sifatullh from Dameli group, Khowar, Pakistan. Pakistan. Khowar, from Dameli group, Sifatullh Hayat, Akram, Asmat, Fakhruddin Akhunzada Photograph: Each year the Foundation holds a conference in the Foundation holds a conference Each year of local with the involvement country, a different on a particular theme institutions and communities, The Foundation’s related to language endangerment. grant funds come from membership subscriptions and from the sale of Proceedings these conferences. collaborated with The Foundation has actively on Intangible UNESCO in accord with its Convention Heritage. its Ogmios journalThe Foundation publishes three the membership. for times a year For further information about membership and the visit its website activities please, Foundation’s www.ogmios.org languages since 1996 languages Foundation for Supporting the world’s threatened threatened Supporting the world’s Endangered Languages Endangered ogmios.org Nov 2018 35 www.ogmios.org Foundation for 129 High St., Hungerford RG17 0DL England Hungerford 129 High St., Endangered Languages Endangered Miriwoong speaker Minnie Lumia telling a dreamtime story about the Spillway area to Agnes Miriwoong Minnie Lumia telling a dreamtime story speaker area to about the Spillway Christina Murmann Photograph: Armstrong and others. Asmat, Akram, Hayat, Sifatullh from Dameli group, Khowar, Pakistan. Pakistan. Khowar, from Dameli group, Sifatullh Hayat, Akram, Asmat, Fakhruddin Akhunzada Photograph: Each year the Foundation holds a conference in the Foundation holds a conference Each year of local with the involvement country, a different on a particular theme institutions and communities, The Foundation’s related to language endangerment. grant funds come from membership subscriptions and from the sale of Proceedings these conferences. collaborated with The Foundation has actively on Intangible UNESCO in accord with its Convention Heritage. its Ogmios journalThe Foundation publishes three the membership. for times a year For further information about membership and the visit its website activities please, Foundation’s www.ogmios.org Please contact us using any of the following:

Email: Nicholas Ostler [email protected]

Post: 129 High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 0DL, UK

Membership enquiries:

Email: Steven Krauwer [email protected]