I recognize that there can be great value to a people in preserving their own language, and I certainly deplore the many attempts by various states to actively destroy the languages and cultures of marginalized groups. However, it does seem to me that there is a bigger picture here. As the world becomes more interconnected and development proceeds, some speakers of minority languages are opting to switch to the dominant tongue (or at least a more preeminent tongue) to advance themselves. I would suggest that this is certainly their right, and that while there is something to be said for preserving a language, there is also something to be said for recognizing that not all languages will be preserved by their own speakers. If minority language speakers decide that they can get a better deal by abandoning their language, I say preserve the knowledge of it so it can be resurrected if their descendants change their minds, and let the chips fall where they may.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 18:55:11 +0000
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