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Twenty First Annual Darwin College Lecture Series 2006

SURVIVAL

Lecture 3   :   3 February

SURVIVAL OF LANGUAGES

Peter Austin

School of Oriental & African Studies London

Biography  |   Abstract   |   Printable Version   |   Podcast Preview

Abstract

Across the world minority languages are under threat from larger regional and global languages as communities shift their preferences in favour of what they perceive as economically, politically and socially more powerful tongues. In the process languages become endangered as children are no longer learning them -- eventually such threatened languages can and do disappear. This lecture will address a number of issues: What are the factors that determine a language's survival? Are all smaller languages doomed to replacement by a few larger stronger ones? If a language is endangered is there anything that can be done to ensure that it does survive and does not become extinct?

The lectures are given at 5.30 p.m. in The Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue, with an adjacent overflow theatre with live TV coverage. Each lecture is typically attended by 600 people so you must arrive early to ensure a place.