Language Death

David Crystal

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139923477

The rapid endangerment and death of many minority languages across the world is a matter of widespread concern, not only among linguists and anthropologists but among all concerned with issues of cultural identity in an increasingly globalized culture. By some counts, only 600 of the 6,000 or so languages in the world are 'safe' from the threat of extinction. A leading commentator and popular writer on language issues, David Crystal asks the fundamental question, 'why is language death so important?', reviews the reasons for the current crisis, and investigates what is being done to reduce its impact. This book contains not only intelligent argument, but moving descriptions of the decline and demise of particular languages, and practical advice for anyone interested in pursuing the subject further.

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Language Death

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

Preface
pp vii-xii

1 - What is language death?
pp 1-34

2 - Why should we care?
pp 35-88

3 - Why do languages die?
pp 89-120

4 - Where do we begin?
pp 121-168

5 - What can be done?
pp 169-220

Appendix - Some relevant organizations
pp 221-224

References
pp 225-240

Index of dialects, languages, language families, and ethnic groups
pp 241-244

Index of authors and speakers
pp 245-248

Subject index
pp 249-262

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