Last year (2019) was the International Year of Indigenous Languages:

“In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, based on a recommendation by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. At the time, the Forum said that 40 per cent of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world were in danger of disappearing.  The fact that most of these are indigenous languages puts the cultures and knowledge systems to which they belong at risk. 

In addition, indigenous peoples are often isolated both politically and socially in the countries they live in, by the geographical location of their communities, their separate histories, cultures, languages and traditions. And yet, they are not only leaders in protecting the environment, but their languages represent complex systems of knowledge and communication and should be recognized as a strategic national resource for development, peace building and reconciliation. 

They also foster and promote unique local cultures, customs and values which have endured for thousands of years. Indigenous languages add to the rich tapestry of global cultural diversity. Without them, the world would be a poorer place.” (SOURCE)

In his essay “Death by Monoculture,” Stephen Pax Leonard stresses the threats facing minority languages and cultures around the world as a result of consumerism and globalization. Leonard focuses specifically on the dual role played by technology: on the one hand, certain forms of technology are contributing to the disappearance of minority languages; on the other hand, he suggests that the Internet and digital media have the potential to preserve linguistic diversity.

I would like you to explore the official website for the International Year of Indigenous Languages HERE and scroll through the variety of infographics HERE to learn more about this initiative. 

Then, I would like you to watch the 7-minute-long video below, which comes from a documentary series called “Language Matters,” produced by PBS (the Public Broadcasting System):

Once you have watched the video above, respond to the following questions in the “Leave a Reply” box at the end of this post before class time on Thursday, 3/5: 

Both Leonard and the video above discuss technology’s impact on linguistic diversity. What role do you believe technology plays in the extinction and/or preservation of minority languages and cultures? And, overall, do you feel that you have a duty as a global citizen to fight to protect minority/indigenous languages? If so, why, and how will you do this? If not, why not?

*Note: Refer to the “Blog Response Guidelines” posted on BB > Assignments > Glob. HW Assignments.