Description
Mark Abley/Language Assignment
Length: Two to Three Pages
For this paper, answer one of the following questions. Along with referring to three chapters in the Mark Abley book, Spoken Here, you should also include the James Baldwin essay, as well as articles about Hokkien (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/26/world/asia/singapore-language-hokkien-mandarin.html) and Maori (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/world/asia/maori-moana-new-zealand.html). As always, be specific in your explanations and examples.
1.) Abley, and others, connect people’s status in their societies and countries with their languages (or dialects). What are Abley’s best examples of this argument and how much does this coincide with these articles? Why do you think so?
2.) What are some of the ways that speakers of threatened languages presever, celebrate or communicate their heritage—despite opposition—through music, art and/or literature? Do you think it’s effective?
3.) What has been the impact of American pop culture on threatened languages?
4.) If you were traveling with Abley, what would you want him to focus on? Why? If it’s different than what he has written, how would you suggest he change course?
Explanation & Answer
Hello! Here is the final answer. If you need anything else added or revised, let me know.
Surname 1
Name
Instructor
Course
Date
Reviving Threatened Languages
Introduction
For many years, author Mark Abley spent a lot of time researching and even living
amongst communities and speakers of some of the world’s most endangered languages trying to
understand how and why the languages disappear. In his book Spoken Here – Travels Among
Threatened Languages, Abley discusses some of the experiences and encounters he made
throughout this adventure which took him to many places across the world. It is no doubt that
many languages are disappearing entirely from the world while others are hanging by a thread.
Some of the reasons why these languages are disappearing at such a fast rate are because of
urbanization and adoption of new cultures. However, some people or speakers of these languages
are trying as much as possible to preserve, celebrate and communicate their heritage through
music, art, and literature....
Review
Review
