Creating Orthographies for Endangered Languages

By: Mari C. Jones (Editor), Damien Mooney (Editor)

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Paperback | 2 April 2020

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344 Pages

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15.0 x 23.0 x 2.0

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Creating an orthography is often seen as a key component of language revitalisation. Encoding an endangered variety can enhance its status and prestige. In speech communities that are fragmented dialectally or geographically, a common writing system may help create a sense of unified identity, or help keep a language alive by facilitating teaching and learning. Despite clear advantages, creating an orthography for an endangered language can also bring challenges, and this volume debates the following critical questions: whose task should this be - that of the linguist or the speech community? Should an orthography be maximally distanciated from that of the language of wider communication for ideological reasons, or should its main principles coincide for reasons of learnability? Which local variety should be selected as the basis of a common script? Is a multilectal script preferable to a standardised orthography? And can creating an orthography create problems for existing native speakers?

Industry Reviews

'These case studies from multiple continents provide an illuminating view into the world of endangered languages and the very specific challenges of providing practical orthographies for them. The wide variety of sociopolitical situations and historical backgrounds is fascinating, especially balanced against the fact that some issues arise quite commonly across languages.' Michael Cahill, Orthography Services Coordinator, SIL International
'This volume of case studies brings it all together for readers to not only learn about, but also pause and marvel at the astounding amount of work that goes into creating an orthography for unwritten and vulnerable languages.' Lionel Mathieu, LINGUIST List

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