Crawford, pp. 52-83

Endangered Native American Languages

1)  This chapter expands on the Darwin metaphor we began exploring in our last class meeting.  Where does the "survival of the fittest" argument break down when it comes to languages?  Why is the "murder versus suicide" dichotomy overly simplistic?

2)  What would your response be to someone who says, "Well, if Native American languages (or any languages) are dying out, there's not much we can or should do about it"?  Which of the four arguments in the section "Why should we care?" do you find most compelling?  Why?

We will also discuss the article by Joshua Fishman entitled, "What do you lose when you lose your language?"  Please take a few moments to read it.


Seven Hypotheses on Language Loss

3) Be able to disucss the importance of the three symptoms of a threatened language.

4)  Choose three of Crawford's seven hypotheses on language loss, the ones you find most compelling.  Explain why you think they are so important.


Note that we will spend some time talking about Spanish language maintenance in the United States.  After our break, we will move to a multimedia room for a Powerpoint presentation on this topic.

Please read the brochure promoting Spanish language maintenance prepared by Ana Celia Zentella and her students in New York City.  Analyze how well you think the arguments in the brochure would work with parents.