I have always wondered if there are languages around world that are facing the threat of extinction. And if there are, what methods can be used to keep them from dying. Also, are there any new languages being created? I think most linguist would agree that the key to creating languages and preventing the death of new languages lies in the hands of the youth. This idea is well articulated in a discussion forum at a website called researchgate by emeritus professor of English and General Linguistics at Bielefeld University, Prof. Dr. Dafydd Gibbon. To start off the discussion, the question that was being asked was: "What strategies for revitalizing endangered languages have been successful?" In response, Dr. Gibbon explains:
"The first is that the decision to retain a language must come from the community on the basis of community self-esteem, and not be decreed by linguistic imposition, however well-meaning. Many languages have come and gone in the past 200000 years.
The second is economics: if there is economic motivation to retain a language, then the community will, likely as not, decide on this.
The third, and most important, is the younger generations: if the young people are motivated to develop their own culture in the language, then they are likely to do this. It is not only the older generation which often fails to practise intergenerational transmission, but also the younger generation under peer pressure from the broader context which rejects this.
The how and what of revitalisation comes in after this, and is very culture-specific."
His response was just one of many but I felt it was the best one. Notice that he did not focus on revitalization but on building the incentive to revitalize a language. In conclusion, I do not think the language will die if the youth decide not to retain it. And it will probably turn into a creole thus creating a new language.
Prof. Dr. Dafydd Gibbon website:
https://bit.ly/2ACgqaS
