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4. Allied Societies and Activities

Akira Yamamoto: a Survey of Endangered Languages and Related Resources

From: Tony Woodbury acw(at)mail.utexas.edu
Subject: Yamamoto EL Survey and Resource list

[At the January 4 (1997) meeting of the LSA Committee on Endangered Languages and their Preservation, it was agreed that I would distribute the following item by Akira Yamamoto to those on the Committee's mailing list.

The item is Akira's handout from the 1997 LSA session "Linguistics and the speech community: Service in return," organized by John Rickford. The version I am sending you includes some updates that Akira has made since the Chicago meeting. --Tony Woodbury]

Endangered Languages Data Summary

Akira Y. Yamamoto
Department of Anthropology
Fraser Hall 622
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-2110
Phone: (913) 864-4103
FAX: (913) 864-5224
E-mail: akira(at)ukans.edu

Linguistic Society of America
Committee on Endangered Languages & Their Preservation

At the 1995 meeting of the Committee on Endangered Languages and Their Preservation in New Orleans, Louisiana, a survey was proposed on endangered languages with which the members of the Linguistic Society of America (LSA) have worked or are working. Consulting other linguistic societies and organizations (e.g., German Linguistic group, International Clearing House for Endangered Languages, Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas (SSILA)), the Endangered Languages Survey Questionnaire was prepared. The LSA Bulletin and the SSILA Newsletter included the questionnaire in their late summer issues. At their 1996 meeting in San Diego, California, the Committee decided to continue the survey and the following is the summary as of September, 1996. The most severely endangered languages are in bald face with asterisk *, indicating that the documentation and research on them are most urgently needed.

This summary report includes one hundred and nine (109) language researchers reporting on 151 languages/dialects.

Language researchers responded to our survey from Australia (3), Belize (1), Canada (8), China (1), Denmark (2), England (5), Germany (2), Hong Kong (1), Japan (1), Mexico (2), the the Netherlands (5), Scotland (1), Spain (1), Venezuela (1), and the rest from the United States (75).

Survey Result Summary

The summary uses the following format for listing: Countries (Number of languages/dialects)
Names of lg/dialect, Lg Family [Researchers reporting]

Australia (2)
*Rabaul Creole German (Unserdeutsch) [Craig Volker volker(at)gifu-kyoiku.ac.jp] (See also Papua New Guinea)
*Wambaya, West Barkly [Rachel Nordlinger rachel(at)csli.stanford.edu]

Belize (1)
Belize Creole [Ken Decker ken.decker(at)sil.org]

Brazil (9)
Baniwa of Içana, Hohôdene, Siucí; North Arawak [Alexandra Aikhenvald
aikaling(at)durras.fac.anu.edu.au]
*Bare, North Arawak [Alexandra Aikhenvald aikaling(at)durras.fac.anu.edu.au]
Jarawara Diealect of Madi, Arawá Lg Family [RMW Dixon, Alan Vogel ARVST1(at)unix.cis.pitt.edu]
Kadiweu, Waikuruan Lg Family [Filomena Sandalo sandalo(at)NL.cs.cmu.edu]
Karitiana, Arikem Family, Tupi Stock [Luciana R. Storto storto(at)mit.edu]
*Kwaza, Affiliation unknown [Hein van der Voort hein.van.der.voort(at)let.uva.nl]
Tariana, North Arawak [Alexandra Aikhenvald ailaling(at)durras.fac.anu.edu.au]
*Warekena of the Xie River, North Arawak [Alexandra Aikhenvald ]
Xavante (Shavante), Gê Lg Family [Laura Graham ]

Canada (27)
Assiniboine (a Sioux dialect), Siouan Lg Family [Douglas R. Parks parksd(at)indiana.edu,
Raymond J. DeMallie demallie(at)indiana.edu] (See also USA)
Babine/Witsuwit'en, Babine-Carrier, Carrier-Chilcotin [Sharon Hargus sharon(at)u.washington.edu]
Cayuga, Iroquoian Lg Family [Michael Foster , Marianne Mithun mithun(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu, Karin Michelson linkarin(at)ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu]
*Delaware (Munsee), Algonquian Lg Family [John D.W. O'Meara john.omeara(at)lakeheadu.ca]
(See also USA)
Dogrib, a Dene of Athabascan Lg Family [Jaap Feenstra Jaap_Feenstra(at)sil.org]
*Haida, Lg isolate [John Enrico 74542,1026(at)compuserve.com] (See also USA)
*Holkomelem, upriver dialects of Northwest Coast, Central Salish, Salishan [Brent Galloway] (See also USA)
Inuktitut (in Quebec), Eskimo-Aleut [Shanley E.M. Allen allen(at)mpi.nl]
Inuktitut (Eastern Arctic Eskimo), Eskimo-Aleut [Elke Nowak nowak(at)ims.uni-stuttgart.de]
*Klallam, Coast Salishan [Timothy Montler montler(at)unt.edu]
Maliseet-Passamaquoddy, Algonquian Lg Family [Karl van Duyn Teeter kvt(at)husc.harvard.edu] (See also USA)
Mi'kmaq, Algonquian Lg Family [E. Jane Fee jfee(at)is.dal.ca]
Mohawk, Iroquoian Lg Family [Nancy Bonvillain, Karin Michelson linkarin(at)ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu, Marianne Mithun mithun(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu] (See also USA)
Naskapi (Western Naskapi), Algonquian lg Family [Bill Jancewicz bill_jancewicz(at)sil.org]
*Nooksack, Central Salish, Salishan [Brent Galloway] (See also USA)
Ojibwe, Algonquian Lg Family [John D.W. O'Meara john.omeara(at)lakeheadu.ca]
*Oneida, Iroquoian Lg Family [Bryan Gick bgick(at)nimerva.cis.yale.edu, Karin Michelson linkarin(at)ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu] (See also USA)
*Onondaga, Iroquoian Lg Family [Hanni Woodbury thwoodbury(at)delphi.com, Karin Michelson linkarin(at)ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu] (See also USA)
*Potawatomi, Central Algonquian, Algonquian Lg Family [Laura Buszard- Welcher] (See also USA)
*Saanich, dialect of Northern Straits, Coast Salishan [Timothy Montler montler(at)unt.edu]
*Samish dialect of Northern Straits Salish, Coast Salishan [Timothy Montler montler(at)unt.edu]
*Samish diealect of Northern Straits Salish, Central Salish, Salishan [Brent Galloway]
*Sekani, Beaver-Sekani, Athabascan [Sharon Hargus sharon(at)u.washington.edu]
Slavey, Athabascan Lg Family [Philip G. Howard]
*Tuscarora, Iroquoian Lg Family [Marianne Mithun mithun(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu] (See also USA)
Wyandotte, Iroquoian Lg Family [Bruce Pearson blpears(at)univscvm.csd.sc.edu] (See also USA)
Yanktonai (a Sioux dialect), Siouan Lg Family [Douglas R. Parks parksd(at)indiana.edu,Raymond J. DeMallie demallie(at)indiana.edu] (See also USA)

China (3)
Gelao, Tai-Kadai [David B. Solnit dsolnit(at)umich.edu]
Salar, Turkic (Oghuz Lg Family) [Arienne Dwyer adwyer(at)u.washington.edu]
Secret Language of China [Qu Yanbin]

Colombia (2)
Inga, Quechuan [Stephen H. Levinsohn]
Nipode, a dialect of Uitoto (Witoto), Witotoan [John S. Colemen & T Griffiths

Fiji, South Pacific (1)
Wayan, Western Fijian, Oceanic branch, Austronesian Family [Andrew Pawley apawley(at)coombs.anu.edu.au]

France (1)
*Gascon Dialect of French, Romance Lg Family [Francis Karam]

Germany (1)
Sorbian (Upper and Lower), West Slavic Lg Group [Gunter Schaarschmidt gschaar(at)uvvm.uvic.ca]

Greenland (3)
Polar Eskimo, Eskimo-Aleut [Michael Fortescue fortesq(at)coco.ihi.ku.dk]
West Greenlandic (Inuit), Eskimo-Aleut [Jerrold Sadock sadock(at)sapir.uchicago.edu] Inuktitut, Eskimo-Aleut [Jerrold Sadock sadock(at)sapir.uchicago.edu]

Guadeloupe (1)
Guadeloupean French Creole, Atlantic Lesser Antilles French Creole [Gregory Paul Meyjes gppm(at)acpub.duke.edu]

Guatemala (3+)
Chuj, Mayan Lg Family [Judith Maxwell cirma(at)uvg.edu.gt]
Kaqchikel, Mayan Lg Family [Judith Maxwell cirma(at)uvg.edu.gt]
Sipakapense, Kichean, Mayan [Rusty Barrett rustyb(at)ccwf.cc.utexas.edu]
(Mayan dialects of Mexico and Guatemala [Eleanor Frankle])

Guyana (1)
Arawak (Lokono), Maipuran branch of Arawakan Lg Family [Peter van Baarle baarle(at)let.uva.nl]

Italy (1)
Faetar of Francoprovençal, Romance Lg Family [Naomi Nagy nagy(at)unagi.cis.upenn.edu]

Japan (1)
*Hokkaido Ainu, Ig isolate [George Simeon giselle(at)msn.com]
Mexico (14+)
Azoyú Tlapanec, Tlapanecan Lg Family [Søren Wichmann soeren(at)cphling.dk]
Coatzospan Mixtec, Mixtecan, Oto-Manguean [Priscilla Small pris.small(at)sil.org]
*Kiliwa, Yuman Lg Family [Mauricio Mixco]
*Kw'a, Yuman Lg Family [Mauricio Mixco]
Mocho, Mayan Lg Family [Laura Martin l.e.martin(at)csuohio.edu]
Ixtenco Otomí, Otopamean, Otomanguean Stock [Yolanda Lastra]
Pa'ipai, Yuman Lg Family [Mauricio Mixco]
Pima of Ónavas, Uto-Aztecan Family [Kenneth Hale klhale(at)mit.edu]
Popoloc, Popolocan Lg Family, Otomangue Phylum [Annette Veerman-Leichsenring Leichsenring(at)Rullet.LeidenUniv.nl]
*Popoluca (Oluta Popoluca), Mixe-Zoquean Lg Family [Roberto Zavala rzavala(at)mpi.nl] Potosino dialect of Huastec, Mayan Lg Family [Barbara Edmonson]
Southeastern Tepehuán, Uto-Aztecan Lg Family [Thomas Wilett tom.willett(at)sil.org]
Texistepec Popoluca, Mixe-Zoquean Lg Family [Søren Wichmann soeren(at)cphling.dk]
Tzeltal of Tenejapa, Mayan Lg Family [Luisa Maffi maffi(at)cogsci.berkeley.edu]
(Mayan dialects of Mexico and Guatemala [Eleanor Frankle])

Nicaragua (1)
Ulwa (Southern Sumu), Misumalpan (Miskitu-Sumu-Matagalpa) [Kenneth Hale klhale(at)mit.edu] Nigeria (2)
*Bubburè, West Chadic B, Chadic [Andrew Haruna andrew.haruna(at)uni- bayreuth.de]
Guruntum, Chadic, Afroasiatic [Andrew Haruna andrew.haruna(at)uni-bayreuth.de, Philip J. Jaggar pj(at)soas.ac.uk]

Pakistan (6)
Dameli, Dardic or Nuristani, Indo-Iranian [Ken Decker ken.decker(at)sil.org]
Kalasha, Dardic, Indo-Iranian [Ken Decker ken.decker(at)sil.org]
Khowar, Dardic, Indo-Iranian [Ken Decker ken.decker(at)sil.org]
Phalura, Dardic, Indo-Iranian [Ken Decker ken.decker(at)sil.org]
Ushojo, Dardic, Indo-Iranian [Ken Decker ken.decker(at)sil.org]
Yidgha, Pamir, Indo-Iranian [Ken Decker ken.decker(at)sil.org]

Papua New Guinea (3)
Kalam, Madang group, Trans-New Guinea Phylum [Andrew Pawley apawley(at)coombs.anu.edu.au]
*Rabaul Creole German (Unserdeutsch) [Craig Volker volker(at)gifu-kyoiku.ac.jp]
Tungag/Nalik, Oceanic, Austronesian [Craig Volker volker(at)gifu-kyoiku.ac.jp]

Perú (2)
Jaqaru, Jaqi [M.J. Hardman]
*Kawki, Jaqi [M.J. Hardman]

Russia (3)
Russia (1)
Western Itelmen, Chukchi/Koryak (?) [Jonathan Bobaljik bobaljik(at)mit.edu]
Daghestan Republic (2)
Ginux (Dido), Tsezic group, Nakh-Daghestanian Lg Family [Ramazan Rajabov rajabov(at)chaph.usc.edu]
Tsez, Tsezic group, Nakh-Daghestanian Lg Family [Bernard Comrie comrie(at)bcf.usc.edu, Maria Polinsky polinsky(at)bcf.usc.edu, Ramazan Rajabov rajabov(at)chaph.usc.edu]

Scotland (1)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), Goidelic branch of Celtic Group [Iain Taylor]

Spain (1)
Asturian, Asturianu [Mark J. Ostrowski mostrow(at)lander.es]

Sudan (1)
*Birgid Nubian, Nilo-Saharan [Björn H. Jernudd jernudd(at)hubu.edu.hk]

USA (70)
Acoma dialect of Keresan, Lg isolate [Hilaire Valiquette]
Alabama, Moskogean Lg Family [Timothy Montler montler(at)unt.edu]
*Arikara, Caddoan Lg Family [Douglas R. Parks parksd(at)indiana.edu]
Assiniboine (a Sioux dialect), Siouan Lg Family [Douglas R. Parks parksd(at)indiana.edu, Raymond J. DeMallie demallie(at)indiana.edu] (See also Canada)
*Caddo, Caddoan Lg Family [Wallace Chafe chafe(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu]
*Central Pomo, Pomoan Lg Family [Marianne Mithun mithun(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu]
Chimariko, Hokan [Katherine Turner kathy(at)cogsci.bekeley.edu]
*Chˆwere, Siouan Lg Family [Louanna Furbee anthnlf(at)mizzou1.missouri.edu] (See also Ioway-Otoe/Missouria)
*Choinimne, Yokuts Lg Family [Robert Lyday]
Choctaw, Muskogean Lg Family [Patricia Kwachka ffpbk(at)aurora.alaska.edu]
*Chukchansi Yokuts, Yokuts Lg Family [Robert Lyday]
Cochiti dialect of Keresan, Lg isolate [Hilaire Valiquette]
Costanoan languages, Utian Lg Family [Catherine Callaghan]
*Deg Hit'an/Deg Xinag/Ingalic, Ingalic-Koyukon, Athabascan [Sharon Hargus sharon(at)u.washington.edu]
*Delaware (a.k.a. Lenape, Unami), Algonquian Lg Family [Bruce Pearson blpears(at)vm.sc.edu] (See also Unami [Dallas Dennis fu585(at)cleveland.freenet.edu; Lenape [James A. Rementer jimrem(at)aol.com]) (See also Canada)
*Eastern Band Cherokee, Iroquoian Lg Family [Robin Sabino sabinro(at)auburn.mail.edu] *Haida, Lg isolate [John Enrico 74542,1026(at)compuserve.com] (See also Canada)
Havasupai, Yuman Lg Family [Akira Yamamoto akira(at)ukans.edu]
HØc£k (formerly Winnebago), Siouan Lg Family [Valdis J. Zeps particle(at)matc.wisc.edu]
*Holkomelem, upriver dialects of Northwest Coast, Central Salish, Salishan [Brent Galloway] (See also Canada)
Hwalbáy (Hualapai), Yuman Lg Family [Akira Yamamoto akira(at)ukans.edu]
Iñupiatun, Inuit [Wolf A. Seiler wolf_seiler(at)sil.org]
*Ioway-Otoe/Missouria [Jimm G. GoodTracks jggoodtracks(at)juno.com] (See also Chiwere)
*Isleño dialect of Spanish [Felice Coles fcoles(at)sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu]
*Karuk, Hokan (?) [William Bright brightw(at)spot.colorado.edu]
*Kawaiisu, Uto-Aztecan Lg Family [Curtis G. Booth cbooth(at)es.com]
*Kechayi of Chukchansi, Penutian [Robert Lyday]
*Klamath-Modoc, Penutian [Scott DeLancey delancey(at)darkwing.uoregon.edu]
Laguna dialect of Keresan, Lg isolate [Hilaire Valiquette]
Lakota, Siouan Lg Family [Regina Pustet rpustet(at)oregon.uoregon.edu] (Until July 28, 1996)
*Lenape, Delaware, Algonquian Lg Family [James A. Rementer jimrem(at)aol.com]; (See also Delaware [Bruce Pearson blpears(at)vm.sc.edu], Unami [Dallas Dennis fu585(at)cleveland.freenet.edu])
Louisiana French Creole [Megan E. Melançon LQMELA(at)LSUVM.SNCC.LSU.EDU]
*Luiseño, Uto-Aztecan Lg Family [Susan Steel steele(at)ccit.arizona.edu]
Maliseet-Passamaquoddy, Algonquian Lg Family [Karl van Duyn Teeter kvt(at)husc.harvard.edu] (See also Canada)
*Mandan, Siouan Lg Family [Mauricio Mixco]
*Miluk, Kusan, Penutian Lg Family [Troy Anderson Hadaimas(at)msn.com]
*Mississippi Gulf Coast French [Rebecca Larche Moreton rebling(at)mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu]
*Miwok languages, Utian Lg Family [Catherine Callaghan]
Northern Sierra Miwok [Suzanne M. Wash 6500wash(at)ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu]
Plains Miwok [Suzanne M. Wash]
Mohawk, Iroquoian Lg Family [Nancy Bonvillain, Marianne Mithun mithun(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu] (See also Canada)
*Monachi (a.k.a. Mono), Uto-Aztecan [Sydney Lamb lamb(at)rice.edu]
Montana Salish (Flathead), Salishan Lg Family [Sarah Thomason sally(at)isp.pitt.edu]
Nez Perce, Sahaptian Lg Family [Haruo Aoki haoki110(at)uclink4.berkeley.edu]
*Nooksack, Central Salish, Salishan [Brent Galloway] (See also Canada)
*Oneida, Iroquoian Lg Family [Bryan Gick bgick(at)minerva.cis.yale.edu, Clifford Abbott abbottc(at)uwgb.edu] (See also Canada)
Onondaga, Iroquoian Lg Family [Karin Michelson linkarin(at)ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu] (See also Canada)
*Osage, Dhegiha of Siouan Lg Family [Carolyn Quintero lang_cq(at)centum.utulsa.edu]
*Pawnee (Skiri & South Band dialects), Caddoan Lg Family [Douglas R. Parks parksd(at)indiana.edu]
*Pit River (Achumawi), Hokan [Bruce E. Nevin bnevin(at)cisco.com]
*Potawatomi, Central Algonquian, Algonquian Lg Family [Laura Buszard-Welcher] (See also Canada)
Sahaptin, Sahaptian, Penutian [Eugene Hunn hunn(at)u.washington.edu]
Salinan, Hokan [Katherine Turner kathy(at)cogsci.berkeley.edu]
San Felipe dialect of Keresan, Lg isolate [Hilaire Valiquette]
Santa Ana dialect of Keresan, Lg isolate [Hilaire Valiquette]
Santo Domingo dialect of Keresan, Lg isolate [Hilaire Valiquette]
Seneca, Iroquoian Lg Family [Wallace Chafe chafe(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu]
Shawnee, Algonquian Lg Family
Absentee Shawnee [bruce L. Pearson blpears(at)vm.sc.edu]
*Loyal Shawnee [David Costa dcosta(at)garnet.berkeley.edu]
*Snchitsu'umshstsn (Coeur d'Alene), Salish Lg Family [Gary Palmer gbp(at)nevada.edu]
*Tuscarora, Iroquoian Lg Family [Marianne Mithun mithun(at)humanitas.ucsb.edu] (See also Canada)
Unami, Delaware, Algonquian Lg Family [Dallas Dennis fu585(at)cleveland.freenet.edu]; (See also Delaware [Bruce Pearson blpears(at)vm.sc.edu], Lenape [James A. Rementer jimrem(at)aol.com])
*Waksachi, Tule-Kaweah Yokuts [Robert Lyday]
*Wintu, Wintun, California Penutian [Harvey Pitkin; Alice Shepherd shepher2(at)ix.netcom.com]]
Wiyot, Algic [Karl van Duyn Teeter kvt(at)husc.harvard.edu]
Wyandotte, Iroquoian Lg Family [Bruce Pearson blpears(at)vm.sc.edu] (See also Canada)
Yanktonai (a Sioux dialect), Siouan Lg Family [Douglas R. Parks parksd(at)indiana.edu, Raymond J. DeMallie demallie(at)indiana.edu] (See also Canada)
*Yavbé of Yavapai, Yuman Lg Family [Akira Yamamoto akira(at)ukans.edu]
Yuki, Yukian [Alice Shepherd shepher2(at)ix.netcom.com]
*Yuchi, Lg isolate [Mary Linn mslinn(at)lark.cc.ukans.edu]
Zia dialect of Keresan, Lg isolate [Hilaire Valiquette]
Zuni, Lg isolate [Willard Walker]

Venezuela (2)
(Arawak; See Arawak in Guyana)
Kari'ña, Northern Carib [Andrés Romero-Figueroa aromero(at)cumana.sucre.udo.edu.ve]
Warao, Lg isolate [Andrés Romero-Figueroa aromero(at)cumana.sucre.udo.edu.ve]

Total number of languages/dialects

	in 1995:	  84
	in 1996:	  66   
	Total of 	 150

Total number of researchers responded:

	in 1995:	  49
	in 1996:	  58
	Total of 	 107
Number of languages in different stages of endangerment measured by the number of speakers

We can read the data in different ways and reach different conclusions. What is clear about the language situations presented in this survey, however, is that the number of speakers is an immediate index for its endangered situation. However it alone is not an accurate indicator of the language situation of the given population. For example, in Brazil (L. R. Storto), there are 185 speakers of Karitiana of all ages. The number 185 seems very small, but the total population of this group is 191! This makes that the 96.85% of the population speak Karitiana as their first language. Storto reports that children learn Karitiana as the first language, and later they learn Portuguese as their second language. Is this an endangered language community? In the Grand Canyon, we find that Havasupai is spoken by over 500 people of all ages, and the total population is 565. That is, about 90% of the population speak the language. Is Havasupai more endangered than Karitiana in Brazil? How about the case of Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) as reported by Iain Taylor. There are 70,000 speakers of Scottish Gaelic out of the total population of 88,892 (i.e., 78.74%), but the number of children acquiring it are dropping. The sense of the language decline is strong among those who have been trying to reverse the language shift. We will leave the judgment of the language endangerment to the readers.

In the following, we list the number of speakers, followed by the number of languages/dialects, and within the square brackets, we provide information on the approximate size of community and the name of the language:

No. of speakers: No. of langs/dialects
[Pop. size, Language name (country)]

0: 12
Community itself has disappeared (2):Chimariko (USA) and Salinan (USA);
Total population is 80-100 (3): Pima of Ónavas (Mexico), Wiyot (USA) and Yuki (USA);
Total population is 1,600 (1): Nooksack (Canada and USA);
Total population is 2,200 (1): Miluk/Kusan (USA);
Total population is over 3,000 (2): Bare (Brazil) and Wyandotte (USA);
Total population is more than 16,000 (1): Ainu (Japan and Russia);
None or few speakers out of 22,000 (1): Eastern Band Cherokee (USA);
Total population unknown (1): Birgid (Sudan)]

1: 5
[Total population may be a few hundreds (1): Waksachi (USA);
Total population is over 1200 (1): Unami dialect of Delaware (USA);
Population is 9,000-11,000 (2): Lenape and Munsee dialects of Delaware (USA);
Population unknown (1): Kechayi (USA)]

2-5: 8
[Population is about 20 (1): Kw'a (Mexico);
Population is about 130 (1): Yavbé (USA);
Population is several hundred (1): Chiwere (USA);
Population is a little over 1,000 (2): Monachi (USA) and Tuscarora (USA & Canada);
Population is a little over 2,000 (1): Wintu (USA);
Population is about 5,000 (1): Central Pomo (USA);
Population unknown (1): Gascon (France)]

5-10: 9
[Population is 40 (1): Kiliwa (Mexico);
Population is about 100 (1): Chukchansi (USA);
Population is a few hundred (2): Choinimne (USA) and Samish (Canada);
Population is under 1,000 (1):
Pit River (USA);
Population is about 1,500 (1): Munsee dialect of Delaware (Canada);
Population is several thousands (2): Karuk (USA) and Klallam (Canada);
Population is about 15,000 (1): Osage (USA)]

10-15: 7 [Population is a few hundreds (2): Miwok (USA) and Wambaya (Australia);
Population is about 500 (1): Luiseño (USA);
Population is between 1,200-1,500 (2): Snchitsu'umshstsn (USA) and Yuchi (USA);
Population is about 4,000 (1): Ioway-Otoe/Missouria (USA);
Population is about 8,000 (1): Loyal Shawnee (USA)]

15-20: 10
[Population is 35 (1): Kawaiisu (USA);
Population is about a thousand (1): Rabaul Creole German (Papua New Guinea and Australia);
Population is a few thousands (2): Pawnee (USA) and Saanich (Canada);
Population is several thousands (3): Arikara (USA), Caddo (USA) and Haida (Canada and USA);
Population unknown (3): Kawki (Perú), Kwaza (Brazil) and Mandan (USA)]

20-30: 4
[Population is 300 (1): Deg Hit'an (USA);
Population is 5,267 (1): Holkomelem (Canada and USA);
Population is several thousands (2): Oluta Popoluca (Mexico) and Oneida (USA, reported by C. Abbott)]

30-40: 4
[Population is about 600 (1): Sekani (Canada);
Population is a few thousands (1): Miwok languages (USA);
Population is over 15,000 (1): Onondaga (Canada);
Population unknown (1): Warekena(Brazil)]

40-50: 5
[Population is about 2,000 (1): Isleño dialect of Spanish (USA);
Population is about 5,000 (2) Mississippi Gulf Coast
French (USA) and Oneida (USA and Canada, reported by B. Gick); Population is about 25,000 (1): Potawatomi (Canada and USA); Population unknown (1): Bubburè (Nigeria)]

 

 

50-100: 5
[Population is several hundreds (2): Alabama (USA) and Mocho (Mexico);
Population is about 1,500 (2): Tariana (Brazil) and Western Itelmen (Russian Far East);
Population is about 5,000 (1): Montana Salish (USA)]

100-200: 5
[Population is about 200 (1): Karitiana (Brazil);
Population is several thousands (2): Cayuga (Canada), Klamath-Modoc (USA);
Population is about 6,000 (1): Seneca (USA);
Population unknown (1): Jarawara dialect of Madi (Brazil)]

200-300: 8
[Population is about 300 (1): Pa'ipai (Mexico);
Population is about 500 (1): Ginux (Daghestan Republic, Russia);
Population is about 2,500-3,000 (2): Absentee Shawnee (USA) and Nez Perce (USA);
Population is between 5,000-6,000 (3): Assiniboine (Canada), HØc£k (USA) and Yanktonai (Canada and USA);
Population unknown (1): Nipode (Colombia)]

300-500: 5
[Population is about 600 (1): Santa Ana dialect of Keresan (USA);
Population is about 2,000 (3): Babine/Witsuwit'en (Canada), Texistepec Popoluca (Mexico) and Ulwa (Nicaragua);
Population is about 12,000 (1): Sahaptin (USA)]

501-1,000: 7
[Population is about 600-800 (5): Faetar (Italy), Havasupai (USA), Naskapi (Canada), Polar Eskimo (Greenland) and Zia dialect of Keresan (USA);
Population is about 1,000 (1): Cochiti dialect of Keresan (USA);
Population is about 40,000 (1): Azoyú (Mexico)]

1,000-2,000: 8
[Population is about 2,000 (3): Hwalbáy (USA), San Felipe dialect of Keresan (USA) and Wayan (Fiji);
Population is about 3,000 (1): Maliseet-Passamaquoddy (Canada and USA);
Population is about 4,000 (1): Acoma dialect of Keresan (USA); Population unknown (3):
Ixtenco Otomi (Mexico), Kadiweu (Brazil) and Ushojo (Pakistan)]

2,000-3,000: 9
[Population is about 3,000 (2): Dogrib (Canada) and Snato Domingo (USA);
Population is about 5,000 (1): Iñupiatun (USA);
Population is about 6,000 (1): Mohawk (USA);
Population is about 7,000 (1): Laguna dialect of Keresan (USA);
Population is about 13,000 (1): Mohawk (Canada and USA);
Population is about 25,000 (1): Mi'kmaq (Canada);
Population is over 4 million (1): Louisiana French Creole (USA);
Population unknown (1): Delao (China)]

3,000-5,000: 9
[Population is about 4,000 (2): Coatzospan Mixtec (Mixico) and Tungag/Nalik (Papua New Guinea);
Population is about 5,000 (1): Slavy (Canada);
Population is about 6,000 (1): Choctaw (USA);
Population unknown (5): Baniwa of Içana (Brazil), Dameli (Pakistan), Jaqaru (Perú), Kalasha (Pakistan) and Kari'ña (Venezuela)]

5,000-10,000: 7
[Population is about 6,000 (1): Inuktitut (Canada);
Population is about 8,000-10,000 (2): Phalura (Pakistan) and Zuni (USA);
Population is about 12,000-15,000 (3): Sipakapense (Guatemala), Tsez (Daghestan Republic of Russia) and Yidgha (Pakistan);
Population unknown (1): Xavante (Brazil)]

10,000-20,000: 10
[Population is about 15,000 (2) Arawak (Guyana) and Inga (Columbia);
Population is about 20,000 (1): Kalam (Papua New Guinea);
Population is about 52,000 (1): Inuktitut (Canada);
Population unknown (6): Guruntum (Nigeria), Inuktitut (Greenland), Ojibwe (Canada), Popoloc (Mexico), Secret Language (China) and Warao (Venezuela)]

20,000-40,000: 2
[Population unknown (2): Chuj (Guatemala), Southeastern Tepehuán (Mexico)]

40,000-60,000: 2
[Population is about 90,000 (1): Salar (China);
Population unknown (1): West Greenlandic (Greenland)]

60,000-100,000: 4
[Population is about 89,000 (1): Scottish Gaelic (Scotland);
Population is about 205,000 (1): Belize Creole (Belize);
Population is over 60,000,000 (1): Sorbian (Germany);
Population unknown (1): Potosino dialect of Huastec (Mexico)]

100,000-more: 5
[Population is about 250,000 (1): Khowar (Pakistan; 200,000 speakers);
Population is about 387,000 (1): Guadeloupean French Creole (Guadeloupe; 350,000 speakers);
Population is 1,200,000 (1): Asturian (Spain; 360,000 speakers);
Population is about 3,210,000 (1): Tzeltal of Tenejapa (Mexico; 258, 153 speakers);
Population is unknown (1): Kaqchikel (Guatemala; 405,000 speakers)]
Report made for 1995 data: February 17, 1996
Report made for 1996 data: December 26, 1996
Compiled by Akira Y. Yamamoto, University of Kansas

Resources

The resource list was initially compiled by Dr. Anthony (Tony) Woodbury of the University of Texas at Austin for the Committee on Endangered Languages and Their Preservation, Linguistic Society of America. The following is an expanded version of it. International:

The International Clearing House for Endangered Languages. [Contact: Professor Tasaku Tsunoda, Head, Department of Asian and Pacific Linguistics, Institute of Cross-Cultural Studies, Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan; Phone: 81-3-3812-2111, ext. 3797; FAX: 81-3-5803-2784; ] The Department of Asian and Pacific Linguistics functions as a clearinghouse and data bank center for the world's endangered languages (collect, store and disseminate information and materials on languages which are imperiled or close to extinction).

UNESCO has supported a number of cultural preservation projects throughout the world. They have also encouraged preservation and development of minority languages. Contact:
Madame Noriko Aikawa, Chief of Section
Intangible Cultural Heritage Section, UNESCO
7, Place de Fontenoy
75700 Paris, France
Tel: +33-1 4568 4519;
Fax: +33-1 4273 0401

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sprachwissenschaft. Arbeitsgruppe Bedrohte Sprachen. [Contact: Hans-Jürgen Sasse, Chair, University of Köln. ] Purpose to draw attention to endangered languages and their documentation; to promote field work in graduate curricula; and to develop sources of support for endangered language field work.

Language Documentation Urgency List. [Contact: Dr. Dietmar Zaefferer, Institut für Deutsche Philologie, Universität Muenchen, Schellingstr. 3, D-80799 Muenchen, Germany; Phone +49 89 2180 2060; Fax: +49 89 2180 3871; ue303bh(at)sunmail.lrs-muenchen.de]

Foundation for Endangered Languages. [Contact: Dr. Nicholas Ostler, President, Batheaston Villa, 172 Bailbrook Lane, Bath, BA1 7AA, England; Phone +44-1225-85-2865; Fax: +44-1225-85-9258; nostler(at)chibcha.demon.co.uk] The Foundation supports, enables, and assists the documentation, protection and promotion of endangered languages.

TERRALINGUA. [Contact: Dr. Luisa Maffi, President, maffi(at)cogsci.berkeley.edu; Dr. David Harmon, Secretary, The George Wright Society, P.O. Box 65, Hancock, Michigan 49930-0065, gws(at)portage1.portup.com]

TERRALINGUA is the tentative name of a non-profit, non-governmental international organiza-tion devoted to preserving the world's linguistic diversity, and to investigating parallels and links between biological and cultural diversity.

USA, general focus:

The Endangered Language Fund. [Dr. Doug Whalen, President; Department of Linguistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520;
whalen(at)haskins.yale.edu] Nonprofit organiza-tion devoted to the scientific study of endangered languages; the support of community-initiated preservation efforts; the broader dissemination of the linguistic results of these efforts.

Linguistic Society of America, Committee on Endangered Languages and Their Preservation (Chair changes every two years; 1) Michael Krauss, 2) Akira Yamamoto, 3) Scott DeLancey--current). [Contact: Ms. Margaret Reynolds, Linguistic Society of America, 1325 18th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-6501, lsa(at)lsadc.org or zzlsa(at)gallua.gallaudet.edu]

USA, Americas focus:

Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival, Subcommittee of Native California Network. [Native California Network, Contact: Mary Bates, P.O. Box 1050, Bolinas, CA 94924; Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival, Contact: Nancy Richardson, CICD, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521]

American Indian Language Development Institute. Directors: Dr. Ofelia Zepeda and Dr. Teresa McCarty. [Contact: Ms. Karen Francis-Begay, Coordinator, AILDI, College of Education, P.O. Box 210069, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0069; Phone: (520) 621-1068, Fax: (520) 621-8174, kfranbe(at)ccit.arizona.ed>]

Centro Editorial en Literatura Indigena, A.C. (CELIAC); Avenida Ejercito Mexicano 1107, Colonia Ampliacion Dolores, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 68020 Mexico. [Contact in Spanish: Jesus Salinas, CELIAC(at)laneta.igc.apc.org] or Dr. H. Russell Bernard, Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 ufruss(at)nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu

The Institute for the Preservation of the Original Languages of the Americas. Joanna Hess, President/Founder, Gloria Emerson, Vice President. [Contact: Inée Yang Slaughter, Executive Director, 713 1/2A Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501; Phone: (505) 820-0311; Fax: (505) 820-0316;

Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas. [Contact: Dr. Victor Golla, Secretary-Treasurer, Department of Ethnic Studies, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521; ]

Others:

Less Commonly Taught Language Project
Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota, 1313 5th Street SE, Suite 111, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Phone: 612-627-1872; FAX: 612-627-1875; LCTL(at)maroon.tc.umn.edu or janus005(at)maroon.tc.umn.edu

Endangered-Languages-L:
A forum and central electronic archive for those interested in the study and documentation of endangered languages. To subscribe, send email to:
majordomo(at)carmen.murdoch.edu.au
with the message "subscribe Endangered-Languages-L your e-mail address".

NAT-LANG.
Email list focusing on languages of Aboriginal peoples. For further information send email to:

NAT-LANG(at)tamvm1.tamu.edu

Data and Other Resources:

We received two important and valuable studies on indigenous languages: one from Department of the Executive, Official Languages Unit of the Northwest Territories, Canada and the other from National Board of Employment, Education and Training, Australia.

1. Canadian Study
Evaluation of the Canada - NWT: Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the NWT (Part I pp 155, Part II pp. 220, Appendices (11 appendices), Technical Paper: A literature review, maintenance and revitalization of aborigianl languages pp. 89). Final Report for the Government of the Northwest Territories prepared by New Economy Development Group, Ottawa, Ontario. December 1993. The report is an evaluation pertaining to the Canada - Northwest Territories Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the NWT that was signed on August 17, 1991, and which has provided $17.37 million for Aboriginal languages, and $12.35 million for French language programs during the three years from 1991-2 to 1993-4. Language programs of the aboriginal language groups evaluated in the report include Chipewyan, Cree, Dogrib, Gwich'in, Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey and South Slavey.

Contact person:
Elizabeth (Sabet) Biscaye
Assistant Deputy Minister
Department of the Executive
Official Languages Unit
Government of the Northwest Territories
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, N.W.T.
Canada NT X1A 2L9

2. Australian Study
Commissioned Report No. 44 The Land Still Speaks: Review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Language Maintenance and Development Needs and Activities by Dr. Graham McKay. This is an extremely valuable and useful document.

Contact:
National Board of Employment, Education and Training, GPO Box 9880, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The study was done by:
Dr. Graham McKay, Coordinator, Language Maintenance Project, Department of Language Studies, Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley Campus, 2 Bradford Street, Mount Lawley, Western Australia 6050

Selected Readings:
Bernard, H. Russell. 1992. Preserving language diversity. Human Organization 51, 1: 82-89.
Brenzinger, Matthias, ed. 1992. Language Death: Factual and theoretical explorations with reference to East Africa. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Cooper, Robert L. 1989. Language Planning and Social Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Dorian, Nancy C. 1981. Language Death: the life cycle of a Scottish Gaelic dialect. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Dressler, Wolfgang U. 1988. Language death. In Linguistics: The Cambridge Survey Volume IV (Language: the sociocultural context), ed. by Frederick J. Newmeyer. Pp. 184-192. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Fishman, Joshua A. 1991. Reversing language shift. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd. Gal, Susan. 1979. Language Shift: Social determinants of linguistic change in bilingual Austria. New York: Academic Press.
Greaves, Tom, ed. 1994. Intellectual Property Rights for Indigenous Peoples, A source book. Oklahoma City, OK: Society for Applied Anthropology.
Hale, Ken, Michael Krauss, Lucille Watahomigie, Akira Yamamoto, Colette Craig, LaVerne Masayesva Jeanne, and Nora England. 1992. Language 68, 1:1-42.
Hill, Jane. 1983. Language death in Uto-Aztecan. International Journal of American Linguistics 49: 258-276.
Hinton, Leanne. 1994/5. "Preserving the Future: A progress report on the Master-Apprentice language learning program" and "Ten Points for Successful Language Learning." News From Native California 8 (3): 14-20.
Hinton, Leanne. 1994. Flutes of Fire: Essays on California Indian Languages. Berkeley: Heyday Press.
Karttunen, Frances E. 1994. Between Worlds: Interpreters, Guides, and Survivors. New Brunswick, J.J.: Rutgers University Press.
Kulick, Don. 1992. Language Shift and Cultural Reproduction: Socialization, self, and syncretism in a Papua New Guinean village. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mithun, Marianne. 1994. SSILA Presidential Address, 1993. SSILA Newsletter 12, 4: 10-11.
Newman, Paul. 1992. Fieldwork and field methods in linguistics. California Linguistic Notes 23, 2: 1-8.
Robins, Robert H. and Eugenius M. Uhlenbeck. 1991. Endangered Languages. Oxford and New York: Berg.
Skutnabb-Kangas, Tove and Robert Phillipson, eds. 1995. Linguistic Human Rights: Overcoming linguistic discrimination. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Sherzer, Joel. 1994. "The Kuna and Columbus: Encounters and Confrontations of Discourse." American Anthropologist 96 (4): 902-924.
Watahomigie, Lucille J. and Akira Y. Yamamoto .1987. Linguistics in action: the Hualapai Bilingual/Bicultural Education Program. In Collaborative Research and Social Change: Applied anthropology in action, ed. by Donald D. Stull and Jean J. Schensul. Pp. 77-98. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
Woodbury, Anthony C. 1993. A defense of the proposition 'When a language dies, a culture dies.' Texas Linguistic Forum 33: Proceedings of the First Annual Symposium on Language in Society. Austin, TX: University of Texas.
Zepeda, Ofelia and Jane H. Hill. 1991. The condition of Native American Languages in the United States. In Endangered Languages, ed. by Robert H. Robins and Eugenius M. Uhlenbeck. Pp. 135-155. Oxford: Berg.

UNESCO Grants Available for Endangered Language Research

From Professor Stephen A. Wurm, 14 May 1997:

Applications to UNESCO (CIPSH) for Grants for the Study of Endangered Languages for the Biennium 1998-1999

I recently discussed the matter of UNESCO (CIPSH) grants for the Study of Endangered Languages personally with the Director-General of UNESCO, Frederico Mayor, in Paris, and was assured by him that the UNESCO funds earmarked for this purpose will increase considerably for next two-year period, 1998-1999. Applications for such grants are called for now.

Applications should be sent to M. Jean Biengen, Secretary-General, CIPSH, UNESCO, 1 Rue Miollis, 75732 Paris, France (fax: 33-1-40659480), as soon as possible, and preferably by fax. (CIPSH stands for International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies.)

The applications should constitute one page only, or maximally two. They should consist of:
· A title, e.g. "Application for financial support for the study of (language N) which is in danger of disappearing"
· Information on the person making the application: name, circumstances of work (institution, academic qualifications, full address, with fax and/or e-mail address if available)
· Name and circumstances of the language(s) to be studied: location, circumstances and grade of endangerment
· Whether unknown or studied to some extent by .....
· Number of speakers if known
· Intended work: grammatical, lexical, text collection (the latter, with interlinear and free translation, and recordings, is particularly important in the case of moribund languages)
· Are local persons or institutions collaborating and involved other than just as informants? (this is much desired by UNESCO)
· Are results expected to be published?
· What other information of relevance may be added.

Note that UNESCO never funds a research project alone, but expects that other financial help will be also available for it (university or other institutional funding, other grants, private funds, etc.)

At the end of the application, a single figure in US dollars should be given as the amount of the financial support applied for. No detailed budget should be submitted.

It should be kept in mind that the primary purpose of UNESCO grants is to make it possible for the specified research to be carried out with a view to its results becoming available through their being written up and eventually published in some form. Financial support - if granted for an application - will be paid separately for 1998 and 1999. Decisions on applications submitted now will be made in the first part of 1998.

All eleven applications to UNESCO for the Study of Endangered Languages in 1996-1997 were approved, although with cuts.

Stephen A. Wurm
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
Australian National University
GPO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

Endangered Language Fund: First Call for Proposals

We enclose, for record only, an edited version of this call. Unfortunately it came out just after the last issue of this newsletter had gone to press, and the deadline has now passed. However, taken together with the last item, it suggests that the funding prospects for EL maintenance and fieldwork may be somewhat more favourable from now on.

From: whalen whalen(at)haskins.yale.edu
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997

Dear Listers,
Here is the Request for Proposals from the Endangered Language Fund..... In this, our start-up year, the time-frame is more compressed that we would like. Next year will be easier.

Doug Whalen
Request for Proposals, Endangered Language Fund
The Endangered Language Fund provides grants for language maintenance and linguistic field work. The work most likely to be funded is that which serves the native community and the field of linguistics immediately. Work which has immediate applicability to one group and more distant application to the other will also be considered. Publishing subventions are a low priority, although they will be considered. The language involved must be in danger of disappearing within a generation or two. Endangerment is a continuum, and the location on the continuum is one factor in our funding decisions. Eligible expenses include travel, tapes, films, consultant fees, etc. Grants are normally for one year periods, though supplements may be applied for. We expect grants in this initial round to be less than $2,000 in size.

How to Apply
There is no form, but the following information should be printed (on one side only) and four copies sent to:
Endangered Language Fund, Inc., Dept Linguistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA

...

Deadline
Applications must be received by May 1st, 1997. Decisions will be delivered by the end of May, 1997.

If a Grant is Awarded
Before receiving any funds, university-based applicants must show that they have met with their university's human subjects' committee requirements. Tribal- or other-based applicants must provide equivalent assurance that proper protocols are being used. If a grant is made and accepted, the recipient is required to provide the Endangered Language Fund with a short formal report of the project and to provide the Fund with copies of all publications resulting from materials obtained with the assistance of the grant.

New Italian Mailing List on Ethnic Minorities, Native Peoples and Stateless Nations

A new Italian mailing list is born! It is called POPOLI (peoples) and it is operated by the Society for Threatened Peoples / Italian branch with Majordomo. POPOLI is maintained by INES, the Italian partner network of APC - Association for Progressive Communications.

POPOLI is the first Italian list dealing with ethnic minorities, native peoples and stateless nations worldwide.

To subscribe, please send a message to:
popoli-request(at)ines.org
writing in the message area the word:
subscribe
To send a message to the whole list, please send to:
popoli(at)ines.org

ATTENTION: Even if you don't know Italian, and so you don't subscribe, send us your news and events and we will circulate them in the Italian-speaking area. Thanks.

Alessandro Michelucci
Society for Threatened Peoples - Italy
PO Box 6282
I-50127 Florence
Italy

Contents.