Post by kaima on Jan 28, 2008 21:24:45 GMT -7
The following article relates to Poland only in the sense that Poles throughout history have often had to command two or more languages. I am posting it here primarily to encourage people who have the opportunity to raise their children with two or more languages. A secondary hope is to help burst the bubble of ego we tend to develop that our modern life is superior to that of our ancestors. Do we really have grounds to believe that our life is better or that our intellect is sharper, simply because we live with more advanced technology? But that digresses from the advantages of speaking two or more languages ...
Each language has its own way of seeing and expressing
COMPASS: Points of view from the community
By WALLACE OLSON
(01/28/08 00:23:15)
Some Alaskans may not fully understand what the death of Marie Smith Jones, the last Native speaker of the Eyak <Indian> language, means to our state.
There are those who question the efforts to preserve not only the Native languages of Alaska, but other languages of the world. Wouldn't it be better to encourage people to learn to speak Chinese, Russian, Spanish or Arabic so they can interact in the modern world, rather than preserve old languages?
The complete, realistic answer is that modern languages are fine, but the preservation of dying languages is equally important.
First, one must understand, as scholars Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf pointed out years ago, that we see the world through our languages. Languages are like programs on that magnificent computer we call the human brain. Just like computer programs, translations of a language are never perfect. Each language has its own concepts, ways of seeing things and expressing them. That's why, for instance, there is no "official" translation of the Quran. It must be read and understood in Arabic. Biblical scholars have to understand Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek to pass on the accurate meaning of our Judeo-Christian scriptures.
Experiments in Canada have shown that individuals who speak only one language process all information through that one program. People who are fluent in two or three languages are much more open to different ideas and concepts because they can process the information in various ways. With globalization, people need these kinds of skills.
Second, around the world, people have stories, legends, folktales and folklore, local knowledge of plants and animals, information that modern scientists use to expand our understanding. This information has been passed on in a given language and in many cases can be found only in that language.
Finally, as we see languages dying out, we need to make every effort we can to preserve the insights of those languages. "Dead languages," those that are no longer spoken by people, are still useful. For example, attorneys and scientists continue to use Latin and classical Greek terms in their work, because the meanings never change. As Sapir and Whorf pointed out, languages are our way of trying to understand "reality."
And so, with the passing of Marie Smith Jones, Alaska has lost a great treasure, the living Eyak language. Fortunately, Michael Krauss has preserved as much of the language as he possibly could. Other linguists are also working to preserve other dying Native languages so that we might have other ways of seeing the world -- a heritage of folklore, stories, values and beliefs.
Yes, modern, living, international business languages are important, but so are other languages.
How would Alaskans like to read, in some other language, the notice that the last fluent speaker of the English language has died?
Wallace Olson is professor of anthropology (emeritus), University of Alaska Southeast.
Each language has its own way of seeing and expressing
COMPASS: Points of view from the community
By WALLACE OLSON
(01/28/08 00:23:15)
Some Alaskans may not fully understand what the death of Marie Smith Jones, the last Native speaker of the Eyak <Indian> language, means to our state.
There are those who question the efforts to preserve not only the Native languages of Alaska, but other languages of the world. Wouldn't it be better to encourage people to learn to speak Chinese, Russian, Spanish or Arabic so they can interact in the modern world, rather than preserve old languages?
The complete, realistic answer is that modern languages are fine, but the preservation of dying languages is equally important.
First, one must understand, as scholars Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf pointed out years ago, that we see the world through our languages. Languages are like programs on that magnificent computer we call the human brain. Just like computer programs, translations of a language are never perfect. Each language has its own concepts, ways of seeing things and expressing them. That's why, for instance, there is no "official" translation of the Quran. It must be read and understood in Arabic. Biblical scholars have to understand Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek to pass on the accurate meaning of our Judeo-Christian scriptures.
Experiments in Canada have shown that individuals who speak only one language process all information through that one program. People who are fluent in two or three languages are much more open to different ideas and concepts because they can process the information in various ways. With globalization, people need these kinds of skills.
Second, around the world, people have stories, legends, folktales and folklore, local knowledge of plants and animals, information that modern scientists use to expand our understanding. This information has been passed on in a given language and in many cases can be found only in that language.
Finally, as we see languages dying out, we need to make every effort we can to preserve the insights of those languages. "Dead languages," those that are no longer spoken by people, are still useful. For example, attorneys and scientists continue to use Latin and classical Greek terms in their work, because the meanings never change. As Sapir and Whorf pointed out, languages are our way of trying to understand "reality."
And so, with the passing of Marie Smith Jones, Alaska has lost a great treasure, the living Eyak language. Fortunately, Michael Krauss has preserved as much of the language as he possibly could. Other linguists are also working to preserve other dying Native languages so that we might have other ways of seeing the world -- a heritage of folklore, stories, values and beliefs.
Yes, modern, living, international business languages are important, but so are other languages.
How would Alaskans like to read, in some other language, the notice that the last fluent speaker of the English language has died?
Wallace Olson is professor of anthropology (emeritus), University of Alaska Southeast.
