МОВНА ІДЕНТИЧНІСТЬ ЕТНІЧНИХ СПІЛЬНОТ У КОНТЕКСТІ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ МОВНОЇ СИТУАЦІЇ

The article outlines the main sociolinguistic parameters of collective language identity. The role of such constructs as ethnicity, statehood, linguistic and cultural value is considered in terms of the formation of language identity. The approach to the analysis here was chosen with taking account of the post-totalitarian specifics of the language situation in Ukraine. The correlation between ethnolanguage and national language identity has been traced. Determinants such as language status, language vitality, sociolinguistic capacity of communities and institutional support are taken into consideration. The importance of language management and language planning in the country and innovative principles of European language policies (language tolerance, language integration, preservation of endangered languages and emphasis on language rights) are underlined as points of reference for focusing on the language identity of ethnic communities. Theoretical substantiation of the concepts “ethnolinguistic identity” and “national (state) language identity” is offered.

A Program for the Preservation and Revitalization of the Languages of Russia

This article presents the Program for the Preservation and Revitalization of the Languages of Russia proposed by the Institute of Linguistics, Russian Academy of Sciences (the Program). The Program is based on knowledge accumulated in linguistics in domains such as linguistic diversity, language endangerment, and language preservation methods. According to a recent assessment, there are 150 to 160 languages of Russia. This number of languages, even though quite high, is manageable for a national language preservation Program. Languages are rapidly becoming extinct worldwide, and Russia is no exception to this trend. The following terms are used to categorize languages according to risk of extinction: safe languages, endangered languages, severely endangered languages, and nearly extinct languages. There are several important humanitarian and scientific reasons for engaging in language preservation. The central idea of the Program is to boost intergenerational language transmission wherever feasible. Various approaches to different language situations are envisaged, including enlightenment campaigns, language nests, and language documentation. Three necessary conditions for language revitalization include engaging local activists, administrative and financial support, and the scientific validity of the methodology. The Programs 12-year roadmap is split into three stages. There are a number of favorable factors making the Program feasible, as well as a number of potential obstacles. We have a historic opportunity to preserve languages spoken in Russia, and this is an opportunity that must be used.

QS Subject Focus Summit 2020 on Modern Languages and Linguistics: Languages and migration in a globalized world

This article summarizes some of the results of the first QS Subject Focus Summit on Linguistics and Modern Languages held jointly with the RUDN University on December 15-17, 2020. It provides rationale for the choice of venue of this linguistic forum and analyzes the most relevant topics of discussion, including interdisciplinarity in modern linguistic research, comparative studies of languages and cultures, and intercultural and cross-cultural communication. Participants explored the topics as diverse as the role of linguistics in developing artificial intelligence systems and application of artificial intelligence in linguistic research, the dynamics of languages in minority situations and the efforts in preserving endangered languages. They dwelt on the current state of translation studies and discussed prospects for their future in view of advances in computer technologies, and many others. The articles included in this issue and authored by the Summit participants clearly show that language has become an object of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies. Moreover, the interdisciplinary research paradigm is manifested not only in the convergence of linguistics with other areas of humanities, but also with sciences. This article provides a brief overview of the contributions which present major paradigms of modern linguistics. It highlights the importance of applying computer technologies in linguistic research and emphasizes the necessity to modify language policies in order to preserve minority languages and meet the needs of language education in a multilingual and multicultural environment.

A needs survey of overseas Irish language learners

The vast majority of endangered languages are expected to have vanished from community use within one to two generations (Lackaff & Moner, 2016). One such language, Irish, may die out as a vernacular within a decade in the Irish-speaking regions of Ireland (Ó Giollagáin & Charlton, 2015). However, there is growing interest in the Irish language overseas, particularly in the USA (Schwartz, 2020). In this study, a survey was conducted with 92 respondents to identify the needs of learners living outside of Ireland. The findings of this needs assessment suggest that overseas Irish learners would benefit from the provision of an online Irish language community that connects members through communicative and collaborative language activities. Positioned in the context of similar developments and innovations internationally (e.g. Henry, Carroll, Cunliffe, & Kop, 2018), this research builds on existing literature in online sociocultural language learning.

UNESCO’s Atlas on Endangered Languages and the Local Context

This article analyses the overall development of the endangered language around the world in reference to UNESCO’s Atlas of World Endangered Languages and reflects on the local context. The focus to local context refers to the current territory of North Macedonia in which it is believed there are 7 endangered languages such as: Adyge, Aromanian, Gagauz (South Balkans), Megleno-Romanian, Judezmo, Romani and Torlak. These languages are classified as endangered but are still spoken in the country. The article also reflects on the status of the Albanian language in North Macedonia by drawing comparisons with two other language varieties such as Arberesh which spoken in Southern Italy and Arvanitika spoken in Greece. The challenges that these minority languages have faced in particular countries should serve as a guide in designing effective language policies in North Macedonia in order for the language not be endangered. In the last section the article report on the phenomena of Globalization in which English has become the global language and at the same time has accelerated the loss of many native languages around the globe.

THE ROLE OF VISUAL MODALITY IN LANGUAGE VITALITY AND MAINTENANCE

В статье на примере русского жестового языка (РЖЯ) делается попытка показать, что инструменты оценки жизнеспособности и сохранности языка, разработанные на материале звуковых языков, не вполне подходят для оценки жизнеспособности и сохранности жестовых языков. Если, например, оценивать жизнеспособность РЖЯ по шестибалльной шкале в системе «девяти факторов», предложенной в документе ЮНЕСКО (Language vitality…, 2003) и используемой в Атласе языков, находящихся под угрозой исчезновения, то эта оценка составит не более 3 баллов, т. е. РЖЯ будет характеризоваться как язык, находящийся под угрозой исчезновения. Это бесписьменный язык, преимущественно используемый в сфере бытового общения, существующий в окружении функционально несопоставимо более мощного русского звукового языка; подавляющее большинство носителей РЖЯ являются билингвами, в той или иной степени владеющими русским звуковым языком в его устной или письменной форме; большая часть носителей РЖЯ усваивают жестовый язык не в семье, с рождения, а в более позднем возрасте; условия усвоения РЖЯ влияют на языковую компетенцию его носителей; окружающий русский звуковой язык влияет на лексику и грамматику РЖЯ; этот язык остается пока недостаточно изученным и слабо задокументированным, и т. д. Однако в действительности РЖЯ в этих условиях стабильно сохраняется, а в последнее время даже расширяет свой словарный состав и сферы использования. Главный фактор, который обеспечивает сохранность жестового языка и который не учитывается в существующих методиках, предназначенных для оценки витальности языков — это модальность, в которой существует жестовый язык. Глухие люди, в силу того что им недоступна или плохо доступна аудиальная модальность, не могут полностью перейти на звуковой язык. Наиболее естественной для коммуникации для них остается визуальная модальность, при этом современные средства связи и интернет открывают дополнительные возможности для подержания и развития языка в визуальной модальности. The paper discusses sociolinguistic aspects of Russian Sign Language (RSL) and attempts to show that the tools used to access the degree of language vitality, which were developed for spoken languages, are not quite suitable to access vitality of sign languages. For example, if to try to assess the vitality of RSL in terms of six-point scale of the “nine factors” system proposed by UNESCO (Language vitality ..., 2003), which is used in the Atlas of Endangered Languages, the assessment of RSL would be no more than 3 points. In other words, RSL would be characterized as an endangered language. It is an unwritten language, mainly used in everyday communication; it exists in the environment of functionally much more powerful spoken Russian; the overwhelming majority of RSL signers are bilinguals, they use spoken Russian, at least in its written form; most deaf children acquire RSL not in the family, from birth, but later in life, at kindergartens or schools; the conditions of RSL acquisition affect the deaf signers’ language proficiency, as well as spoken Russian affects RSL’s lexicon and grammar; RSL still remains insufficiently studied and poorly documented, etc. However, RSL, as a native communication system of the Deaf, based on visual modality, is not only well maintained, but even expands some spheres of use. The main factor, which supports maintenance of RSL and which is not taken into account in the existing tools to access the degree of language vitality is visual modality. The auditory modality is inaccessible or poorly accessible for the deaf, so they can not completely shift to spoken Russian. Visual modality remains the most natural for their communication. In addition, modern technologies and the internet provide much more opportunities for the existence of RSL in this modality and for its development.

The status of sibilant harmony in Diné Bizaad (Navajo)

This article presents an acoustic phonetic study of contemporary Diné Bizaad (Navajo) sibilant harmony, with a focus on the realization of /s/ and /ʃ/ in two verbal prefixes and one nominal prefix. Data come from wordlists and connected speech recorded in interviews with 50 Diné Bizaad–English bilinguals, aged 18–75 years. The frequency of harmony in each prefix is calculated for speakers of different ages, then acoustic measurements of spectral center of gravity are measured and statistically compared to those in sibilants occurring in harmony-triggering and non-harmony triggering conditions. Results show no significant intergenerational differences in the phonetic or phonological realization of sibilant harmony; speakers consistently and categorically harmonize the two verbal prefixes analyzed here, but rarely harmonize the nominal prefix. This study contributes new phonetic documentation of a typologically rare phonological process and suggests that, in contrast to findings from other studies on endangered languages, sibilant harmony is not undergoing attrition or contact-induced change.

Emerging Role of Libraries in Language Archiving in India A Case Study of SiDHELA

SiDHELA is a language archive developed by the Centre for Endangered Languages, Sikkim University in collaboration with the Central Library, Sikkim University. It is the first language archive developed in India. SiDHELA is a model attempt at digital archiving in collaboration with communities of Sikkim and North Bengal region of India. The main highlight of the paper is the possibilities which emerges out of a collaboration between under resourced indigenous communities and an institutional library backed by a language documentation project to curate digital contents for endangered and lesser known languages from under resourced regions like the Northeast of India.