Languages constantly compete with one
another, and the fight often can be fatal, according to researchers at
Cornell University.
Prof. Daniel Abrams of Cornell initiated a study on how languages can
be saved, or stabilized, by education and proactive policy-making.
French
signs in Quebec
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The study used a mathematical model to analyse the endangerment of
languages in 42 regions around the world. According to their findings,
competition drives language survival in the same way as animal survival.
"Ten or 20 years ago, French in Quebec was dropping pretty quickly
compared to today," Abrams said.
More than 20 years ago, Quebec adopted the Charter of the French
Language. It made French the common language of work, education,
communication, and commerce in Quebec.
Abrams says 90 per cent of languages are expected to disappear within
the current generation, but language decline can be prevented through
education and proactive government policy as happened in Quebec.
"Languages are vicious this way, and where there are two, one tends to
wipe out the other," said Prof. Steven Strogatz, co-author of the study.
One of the important factors in language competition is perceived
status. English, French and Spanish are all considered high-status
languages that have wiped out languages such as Alsatian and threaten
others such as Scottish Gaelic and Inuktitut.
The researchers think other cultures should follow the Quebec model of
language preservation.
"If you don't take some sort of active measures, one language will go
extinct," said Strogatz.
The study appears in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.
