Work Papers
of the Summer Institute of Linguistics,
University of North Dakota Session

Papers to Appear in Volume 49 (2005-9)

Volume editor: Joan Baart
Contact the current editor by email

Bringing it home: the implications of documentation for a vibrant endangered language

Stephen A. Marlett

(11 pages, 140 Kb)
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Documentation of an endangered language may be a short project that is carried out with urgency and with primarily academic benefits because the speakers are not passing on the language to others. This paper presents historical perspective on a quite different kind of situation. The documentation of the Seri language has taken place over a considerable period of time and with goals that were primarily community-focused. It documents some of the challenges that have been present during those years and also the benefits of that documentation that are just now beginning to be felt by the speakers of that language.

Do the Talysh and Tat Languages Have a Future in Azerbaijan?

John M Clifton

(5 pages, 167 Kb)
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Tat and Talysh are two less-widely-used Iranian languages indigenous to Azerbaijan. Sociolinguistic research revealed that both languages are being displaced in some communities but coexist with Azerbaijani in others. Factors contributing to these differences include isolation, ethnic diversity, and economic opportunity. One other factor contributing to displacement is a desire to see children excel in school. This could well be the most important factor breaking
transmission from one generation to the next. In light of this, it is important to document the language and culture while they are vital.