From: Peter K. Austin
Department of Linguistics, SOAS
2 February 2009
After the success of last year, we are running Endangered Languages Week 2009 at SOAS from 22nd to 28th February. The theme this year is "Endangered languages: who cares?"
Endangered Languages Week will presents a variety of displays, discussions, films, and workshops to provide a view of what is happening to languages around the world and what is being done to document, archive and support endangered languages at SOAS and elsewhere. Activities will include:
- Annual Public Lecture - Bernard Spolsky on "Rescuing Maori: the last 40 years"
- Meet an Endangered Language - a series of short presentations on several endangered languages, where you can learn about where they are spoken, why they are threatened, and experience their culture - as well as learn some basic words and phrases. This year we feature Eleme, Guernésiais, Khanty and Gamilaraay.
- Open Day - we open our doors so visitors can meet researchers, see displays of staff and student work, and experience the latest technologies used to record, archive and support endangered languages
- Debate. Languages vs species? - A debate on priorities of preservation in an endangered world.
[ Click for full-sized poster]
- Postgraduate students will present their work in poster sessions
- A two day workshop on Beliefs and ideology on endangered languages (see also here)
- a day of international films on endangered languages
- displays from other organisations involved in endangered languages activities
Most events are free of charge and open to anyone who is interested in endangered languages. A full programme of events is available (you can download a pdf here). We look forward to seeing you with us during the week in London.