Dear Deka, You are absolutely correct. Often it is the numbers that count. If there are not enough people speaking a language, it will be quite difficult for that language to grow, improve, or even make contributions to the culture it exists in.
Its a mistaken notion that a few millions speaking a language will be able to salvage it against some 100s of millions speaking a different tongue. --Ram On 3/2/08, kamal deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Sarangapani, > I do agree with you.A bunch of languages are fading away in bilingual > cultures as indigenous tongues are overwhelmed by the dominant language at > school,in the market place and on TV.United Nations estimates half of the > world's 7000 languages will disappear in less than a century.In fact,one > falls out of use every two weeks. > Aging populations,economic pressure,youth apathy and lack of written form > are only some of the conditions leading to the endangerment of a > language.You see,half of the world's people now use one of just 8 > languages: > Chinese,English,Hindi,Spanish,Russian,Arabic,Portuguese and French. > The Assamese language has already been put to sleep in American context. > By the way,the Irish have succeeded in preserving their native Gaelic to > the > point where it is now spoken by 13% of the population of the Republic of > Ireland. > KJD > > > > > > On 3/2/08, Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Barua, > > > > >Interesting. Compared to that Assamese are fortunate that I don't think > > >there is any concern for losing the Assamese language although many > > >people > > are worried for nothing. > > > > That itself is an interesting statement. > > The problem is comparing Gaelic (in this case) and the Irish being > > non-challant of their language to the concerns of the Assamese. > > Why do you think some Assamese are worried for nothing? > > > > The Irish have had problems with their religious denomiations > > (Catholoc-Protestant, Northern Ireland/IRA etc, etc) - compared to that > > the > > Assamese have had very *few problems* with regards to religions. > > Both Assamese Hindus and Muslims have gotten along very well for a very > > long > > time. > > > > The Assamese are and should be rightly concerned with the changing > > landscape > > whereby illegal Bangladeshis are coming in hordes, and more *importantly > > speak a different language*. > > > > >From all practical indications it does seem that the Assamese language > > will > > face huge challenges, to say the least. It is very simple, if only a > small > > minority speak a language, it will cease to exist > > > > I think it is a major problem facing Assam and I am not sure if any > > Assamese > > can or should be magnanimous as to not be worried about losing the > > language. > > > > --Ram > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 3/2/08, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > Umesh: > > > Interesting. Compared to that Assamese are fortunate that I don't > think > > > there is any concern for losing the Assamese language although many > > people > > > are worried for nothing. > > > BTW is there some predictions which are the languages that will be > lost > > > during next 50 or 100 years.? > > > Rajenda > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "umesh sharma" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 11:23 PM > > > Subject: [Assam] Losing the Language - Irish to English > > > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > > > I just met an Irish singer from Dublin and was surprised to learn > that > > > he > > > > couldn't speak Irish (Gaelic) since as he said " In Ireland it is > > easier > > > > to find Chinese speaking persons than Irish/Gaelic speaking people." > > > This > > > > is despite that fact that Irish is compulsory is schools - for 16 > > years > > > of > > > > schooling. > > > > > > > > He told me that Scotland has its own version called Scot-Gaelic but > it > > > too > > > > is losing ground to English - only 50,000 speakers though 5 million > > > > Scots. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language > > > > > > > > Surprisingly he said there is no revolt or bad feeling that Irish > has > > > been > > > > taken over by English - depsite IRA violence in Northen Ireland (and > > > rest > > > > of UK) till recent times > > > > > > > > Umesh > > > > > > > > PS:: We are delighted that Luke Slott will be back at Tiny Planet to > > > warm > > > > the room with his radiant spirit and music. This time Luke will be > > > > singing some of his original songs with piano and guitar. > > > > > > > > > > > > Umesh Sharma > > > > > > > > Washington D.C. > > > > > > > > 1-202-215-4328 [Cell] > > > > > > > > Ed.M. - International Education Policy > > > > Harvard Graduate School of Education, > > > > Harvard University, > > > > Class of 2005 > > > > > > > > http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info) > > > > > > > > http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used ) > > > > http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > Yahoo! Answers - Get better answers from someone who knows. Tryit > now. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > assam mailing list > > > > [email protected] > > > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > assam mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > assam mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
