February 2018 Issue 64 The newsletter of The Foundation for Endangered Languages Syuba community members getting involved in video recording for linguistic fi eldwork – see page 4. In this issue: Focus on Faroese Recirculating songs in Australia Interview with Lauren Gawne la causa dei popoli February 2018 Contents Development of the Foundation Editorial 1 FEL as a campaigning organization 2 Endangered languages in the news FEL as a campaigning Lauren Gawne on working with Syuba communities 4 organisation – see page 2 Aboriginal singing practices and culture 7 Focus on Faroese 8 Faroe volunteers run online translation service 9 Bilingual Faroese-English publication has home at its heart 9 Italian-language minority culture journal launches most recent issue 10 Fall School on Documentary Linguistics in the MENA region 10 Around the web... Front page Story Lost language: how Macau gambled away its past 11 Tibeto-Burman language Keep Talking: the Healing Power of Language 11 research – see page 4 ‘A special place for Luxembourgish’ 12 Newfound Pride in Guaraní, a Language Long Disdained in Paraguay 12 Elfdalian language gets double coverage 13 Exploring the Tensions Between Tradition and Innovation 13 Thousands spoke his language in the Amazon. Now, he’s the only one 14 New Zealand broadcasters refuse to stop using Maori words 14 Singing practices in Australia – February 2018 Issue 64 see page 7 Ogmios is published three times each year by The Foundation for Endangered Languages Editor: Hayley Ferguson [email protected] Telephone: +447566206316 The Foundation for Endangered Languages (FEL) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1996. FEL is registered as Charity number 1070616 in England and Wales. FEL is registered in the USA as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization (501(c)3). Email: Nicholas Ostler [email protected] Post: 129 High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 0DL, UK Focus on Faroese – see page 8 http://www.ogmios.org February 2018 – 1 The Editor If you’ve got this far, you’d be names in the fi eld in subsequent a backseat in the publication of awfully unobservant to have missed issues, and it is my promise to you, Ogmios, this is because his role at that Ogmios is sporting an exciting the readership, that we will seek to the Foundation for Endangered new design. publish as many unique opinions Languages is taking a new direction As a freshly sworn-in editor, it’s about language revitalisation and that will allow us to increase our no secret that one’s fi rst port of call documentation as is possible. worldwide impact as a charitable is often a visual overhaul. But a new You’ll also notice that some organisation. look is not all we’ve achieved over of our regular sections have been Having been fortunate enough the last few months. stripped away – these will be re- to have exposure to many cultures As a team, the Foundation for inserted in time, and, of course, I’m in my formative years, I have seen Endangered Languages’ Executive always open to suggestions for new fi rst-hand how the use of individual Committee has put in a great deal of editorial sections. languages and dialects is bound hard work to reimagining Ogmios I feel it’s relevant to offer our up with cultural transmission, and as a print newsletter, and ensuring loyal readers some context about my helping communities remember it’s as useful, and engaging, a text as affi liation with the academic fi eld of what makes them unique. And while possible for both armchair linguists endangered languages, so as to put it’s a terrible shame that languages and academics working in the fi eld your minds to rest that Ogmios is in do regularly go out of service due alike. I do hope the sentiment safe hands. to natural causes, this is an especially is largely that we’ve fulfi lled this As a magazine editor, I’ve burning issue in populations whose objective. worked in a variety of contexts, but, languages have been seized by As you fl ick – or scroll – through like many journalists, my origins displacement or even use of violent the newsletter, you’ll notice that were in linguistics, rather than the force. My involvement with Ogmios we’ve put a greater focus on original many commercial subjects about is a personal fi rst step towards content than ever before, having run which I have written. making a tangible difference to the several interviews with endangered However, my time as a cause. language specialists in this issue. business editor has been extremely You can read more about the I was especially excited by the rewarding in allowing me to important work that he is carrying fi rst-hand account we received explore avenues that might make out to help us grow our reach on from Lauren Gawne, co-host of an impact in helping people stand page 2. And, under his careful the Lingthusiasm podcast, founder up to globalisation and preserve tutelage over the last year, I have of generalist linguistics website the languages that contribute to the been well-prepared for the task of Superlinguo, and David Myers construction of identities distinct infl uencing, and inspiring, linguists Research Fellow at La Trobe from the world’s dominant cultures. – passive and active – in using their University – on her specialist I’m sure that – if you’re a long- skills to make a difference in this research in Tibeto-Burman time subscriber – you’re also curious underserved fi eld. languages. about what Christopher Moseley, At the helm of this illustrious the newsletter’s dedicated editor for Hayley E. Ferguson newsletter, I will be seeking out many years, is now doing. Editor, Ogmios even more original content with big While Chris may have taken [email protected] 2 – February 2018 FEL as a campaigning organisation by Chris Moseley – Editor at large Usually when human rights we should address ourselves their language, which is only issues appear in the media, wouldn’t be clear. incidental to this issue (at least language is not the focus of What I suggest that as far as media reports are the apparent injustice. FEL can do is to monitor concerned), but rather for their Language has to take a the language policies of religion and ethnicity. back seat when other, more multilingual states. When a new But the Arakanese language immediate issues of human government comes to power in is the mother tongue of survival are at stake. A mother one of them, we could assess the vast majority of them tongue seems a luxury when whether factional interests in – Arakan and Rohingya are food, clothing, security and the government favour one almost synonyms. Arakanese shelter can’t be provided. language over another. might not be an endangered Cases of dying for the We could look particularly language were it not for sake of one’s language are at the provision of mother- this persecution; now it is quite rare when compared tongue education in them – becoming one. with other causes that people bearing in mind that in really So doesn’t it behove FEL have perished for. These more multilingual states, where to speak out – who else will immediate needs, for example, there are many endangered if we don’t? – to defend their are the focus of most of the languages, the government is linguistic rights? A carefully radio and other media appeals strapped for cash. worded and well-researched on behalf of disadvantaged We can at least try to press release might put further people around the world. ensure that the situation pressure on the Burmese But deprivation of the doesn’t deteriorate for those government to take action. right to use one’s mother ethnic groups that are in a It doesn’t matter in the tongue is pernicious in the weak political position, low in least whether the majority longer term. And sometimes the pecking order and far from of Burmese people are the deprivation is deep-rooted the centre of power. And to also prejudiced against the and institutional, while in other ensure that such populations Rohingya; their government is cases it might be a temporary are the victims of real political supposed to lead, not follow, expedient of war or confl ict. oppression, rather than benign public opinion. For example, in the neglect. But that is just one confl icts in the nation-states Lately I’ve been inspired to salient instance at the present of Iraq and Syria, the Kurds, want FEL, or some responsible moment. I would like to see who have not had a state of linguistic organization, to our charity set up and ready to their own, have fared variously speak out on behalf of the ask governments everywhere as regards the right to use Rohingya Muslims in Burma, to step up and be accountable their language. Would it be who have been forced to fl ee for their linguistic policies. right for FEL to intervene in en masse into Bangladesh. However, they need to a case like that? Probably not, Now of course they are be measured against some as the administration to which not being persecuted for impartial and unchanging continues next pageÝ February 2018 – 3 minimum standard. major press and broadcasting been discussed in great detail by International covenants on organizations, as well, of the Committee. linguistic rights would be the course, as the government and This is an attempt to get strongest measure. relevant ministries of the target our membership involved in The closest that comes to country. our future discussions about our purposes and interests is Interventions will require a new direction for the FEL’s probably the United Nations careful research, so we can back activities.