On the Death and Life of Languages (An Editions Odile Jacob Book)

Twenty-five languages die each year; at this pace, half the world’s five thousand languages will disappear within the next century. In this timely book, Claude Hagège seeks to make clear the magnitude of the cultural loss represented by the crisis of language death. By focusing on the relationship of language to culture and the world of ideas, Hagège shows how languages are themselves crucial repositories of culture; the traditions, proverbs, and knowledge of our ancestors reside in the language we use. His wide-ranging examination covers all continents and language families to uncover not only how languages die, but also how they can be revitalized—for example in the remarkable case of Hebrew. In a striking metaphor, Hagège likens languages to bonfires of social behavior that leave behind sparks even after they die; from these sparks languages can be rekindled and made to live again. Twenty-five languages die each year; at this pace, half the world's five thousand languages will disappear within the next century. In this timely book, Claude Hagège seeks to make clear the magnitude of the cultural loss represented by the crisis of language death. By focusing on the relationship of language to culture and the world of ideas, Hagège shows how languages are themselves crucial repositories of culture; the traditions, proverbs, and knowledge of our ancestors reside in the language we use. His wide-ranging examination covers all continents and language families to uncover not only how languages die, but also how they can be revitalized - for example in the remarkable case of Hebrew. In a striking metaphor, Hagège likens languages to bonfires of social behaviour that leave behind sparks even after they die; from these sparks languages can be rekindled and made to live again Twenty-five languages die each year; at this pace, half the world's five thousand languages will disappear within the next century. In this book, the author seeks to make clear the magnitude of the cultural loss represented by the crisis of language death. By focusing on the relationship of language to culture and the world of ideas, the author shows how languages are themselves crucial repositories of culture; the traditions, proverbs, and knowledge of our ancestors reside in the language we use. His examination covers all continents and language families to uncover not only how languages die, but also how they can be revitalized--for example in the remarkable case of Hebrew Contents 5 Preface 7 Part I. LANGUAGES AND LIFE 13 1. Languages, Providers of Life 13 2. Languages, Living Species 21 3. Language and Speech 33 4. Words and the Struggle for Life 41 Part II. LANGUAGES AND DEATH 61 5. What Is a Dead Language? 61 6. The Paths to Extinction 85 7. The Battalion of Causes 116 8. Taking Stock 179 9. Factors in Preservation and the Struggle Against Disaster 214 Part III. LANGUAGES AND RESURRECTION 251 10. Hebrew—From Life to Death and From Death to Life 251 11. New Languages, Creoles, Promotions 321 Conclusion 338 References 345 Index 357 Claude Hagège ; Translated By Jody Gladding. Translated From The French. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.