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Aboriginal Languages - Science topic
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Questions related to Aboriginal Languages
I would very much appreciate information about the imposition on our native peoples of America of a single language aboriguen with the purpose of translating it into the European languages that colonized Latin American lands in a special way.
Always the men wanted to legislate on the language fixing the correct use of the language or participating on it; also the political power has empowered a language to be imposed as the one with the majority use in a territory. But the practice of the language policies about relations between the languages and their societies are modern concepts that take back some of their antique practices.
I'm researching on the factors that influences African parents to only use English with their children at home.
I think linguists (including missionaries), who create alphabets, are great enthusiasts. Competition of languages or alphabets of different origin exists in varying degrees in all multi-ethnic societies.
What do you think on it?
Or of any English to Achuar-Shiwiar dictionaries, or texts dealing with it's translation?
Any advice/help is appreciated.
Dr. James M. Crawford was a linguist who mainly studied Native American languages, including Cocopa, Yuchi, and Mobilian trade language.
In his study on endangered Native American languages (please find attached the journal article), Crawford (1995) argues: "Each language is a unique tool for analyzing and synthesizing the world, incorporating the knowledge and values of a speech community. . . . Thus to lose such a tool is to forget a way of constructing reality, to blot out a perspective evolved over many generations" (33).
I agree with Crawford's viewpoint. In the research paradigms, we all know that the reality (well known as ontology - the nature of being, becoming, existence, or reality) is the basic premise to construct a distinct paradigm.
If the establishment/construction of indigenous research paradigms rely on (or embed in) indigenous languages, what should/can researchers/scholars do for those who are losing their indigenous languages? If those indigenous languages die, does it imply that the establishment or reconstruction of those indigenous research paradigms would become difficult or impossible? Is there any way to resolve this problem or crisis?
Reference
Crawford, James. 1995. "Endangered Native American Languages: What Is to Be Done, and Why?" The Bilingual Research Journal 19 (1): 17-38.