Some Basics of Indigenous Language Revitalization
Jon Reyhner
Drawing from papers presented at the five Stabilizing
Indigenous Languages symposiums held since 1994, activities are
recommended for language revitalization at each of Joshua
Fishman's eight stages of language loss. The role of writing in
indigenous language revitalization is discussed, and two types of language
use, primary and secondary discourse, are described. The
conclusion stresses the importance of motivating language learners and
using teaching methods and materials that have proven effective
in indigenous communities.
Symposiums on teaching indigenous languages have been held
annually since 1994 under the cosponsorship of Northern Arizona University's
Bilingual Multicultural Education Program in its Center for Excellence in
Education. The symposiums have featured a wide range of presentations,
ranging from marketing the value of native languages, to implementing
immersion teaching programs, to using Total Physical Response teaching techniques,
to developing indigenous language textbooks useful for children, and even
to teaching languages over the telephone.
akoyako :-) on 05 Apr 08Teaching Indigenous Languages Saturday, April 5, 2008 Teaching Indigenous Languages books | conference | articles | columns | contact | links | index | home Selected Resources on Native American Language Renewal Jon Reyhner The annual Stabilizing Indigenous Languages conferences have sought since 1994 to bring together tribal educators and experts on linguistics, language renewal, and language teaching to lay out a blueprint of policy changes, educational reforms, and community initiatives to stabilize and revitalize American Indian and Alaska Native languages. Much of the relevant previous literature on the subject is cited in the various papers included in Stabilizing Indigenous Languages, especially in Dr. Burnaby's paper in Section I, which emphasizes the Canadian experience. Since the publication of Stabilizing Indigenous Languages in 1996, Northern Arizona University has published five related books: * Reyhner, J.; Trujillo, O.; Carrasco, R.L.; & Lockard, L. (Eds.). (2003). Nurturing Native Languages. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona University. On-line at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/NNL/ * Burnaby, B., & Reyhner. J. (Eds.) (2002). Indigenous Languages Across the Community. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona University. On-line at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/ILAC/ * Reyhner, J.; Martin, J.; Lockard, L.; Gilbert, W.S. (Eds.). (2000). Learn in Beauty: Indigenous Education for a New Century. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona University. On-line at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/LIB/LIBconts.html * Reyhner, J.; Cantoni, G.; St. Clair, R.; & Parsons Yazzie, E. (Eds.). (1999). Revitalizing Indigenous Languages. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona University. On-line at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/RIL_Contents.html * Reyhner, J. (Ed.). (1997). Teaching Indigenous Languages. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona University. On-line at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/TIL_Contents.html The proceedings of the 1999 Stabilizing Indigenous Languages Conference