This article that I found summarized what we talked about in class in a simple way. I found it to be a good overview of the main ideas presented about endangered languages. Some of the facts about how languages disappear I found to be very true. For example, I have seen how culture can influence or discourage someone from speaking a certain language. When I was in high school, I saw the progression of several students that had come to the US from their birth countries with their native tongues.
Upon first arriving they were scared to be made fun of if heard speaking their own language. After a few months and years, their dress and most importantly their way of speaking had changed. Even when speaking to other natives, they prefered English. I can only imagine that their children will likely speak the original language less and less fluently until the language is taken out of use by later generations. This was a sad reality that was depicted in the film as well as in the article.
Another point that made me feel sad was that although linguists may try very hard to preserve the language, they will never be able to fully preserve it. The vocabulary and some other aspects may be kept on paper, but other parts that are not as concrete may be lost forever. Also, it is unfortunate that linguists with the best intentions may lack the money or technology that is needed to do the job as well as they would like. Time is the most important resource that is scarce, and not so much for the linguists, but mostly for the aging populations of the language. Each day those individuals lose some capacity to communicate one of their most prized possessions...their language.
