Jane Hill Language Endangerment

Given the intensity and seriousness of language endangerment there is a wide variety of scholarship on this topic; however several scholars find problematic the literature of language endangerment. One of the main critiques from anthropologist to linguists is that linguist focus on linguistic loss without having much concern for the community of speakers whose language is in danger. The authors Jane Hill (2002) and Peter Whitely (2003) make valid critiques of the popular academic trend that language endangerment scholars propagandize for reasons that undermine its goals of advocacy. Jane Hill critiques the themes of universal ownership and hyperbole, while Whitely in conversation with and building upon Hill’s critics problematizes the apolitical …show more content…
According to Hill, hyperbolic valorization is the reference to endangered languages as treasures and priceless, these metaphors imply that languages hold material wealth that is hidden and waiting to be discovered (Hill 2002:123). I also understand hyperbolic valorization as shifting the attention toward the advocating researchers because it narrates the adventurous journey to discover ‘the treasure’, rather than give central focus to the speaking community. She also makes a valid critique toward Hale’s choice of hyperbolic terminology and emphasizes on pure linguist value. Given that languages holds local cultural knowledge, social identity and cultural history this is cultural wealth to that particular community. It is acceptable for researches to use this metaphor of languages and treasure if used on the proper context and relating to the speakers. Yes, for the Mexicano speakers this metaphor may not be applicable, but for other communities like the Hopi do value their language as a cultural and identity …show more content…
This means that 90% of today’s population speaks a metropolitan language, while 10% of the world population speaks periphery languages. This statistics clearly put into concept the realness of language enlargement. Languages are disappearing for multiple reasons like environmental and economic consequences that originate with colonial expansions that have resulted on the oppression of indigenous. Presently languages are dying due to voluntarily and involuntary linguistic shifts of communities due to economic incentives and linguistic ideologies. With the death of a language sociocultural knowledge and identities markers are lost leaving a lasting trauma in those communities affected. It is encouraging to see community and academic efforts to protect and rehabilitate languages. The dynamic scholarship of linguistic endangerment must continue in conversation with each other and with the communities with endangered languages to create effect to protect these