[Assam] Losing the Language - Irish to English

[Ram Sarangapani]

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 <kjit.deka at gmail.com> 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 <assamrs at gmail.com> 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 <barua25 at hotmail.com> 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" <jaipurschool at yahoo.com>
> > > To: <assam at assamnet.org>
> > > 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.
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