How can linguists support language revitalization efforts in the Brazilian context?

Authors

  • Luiz Amaral University of Massachusetts

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31513/linguistica.2021.v17n2a53308

Keywords:

language revitalization, language planning frame, indigenous languages, education

Abstract

In the last 20 years, language revitalization efforts have grown to the point where we can now talk about a global movement to save the linguistic diversity that exists in different parts of the world. Linguists have long benefited from this multilingualism and in many cases have helped preserve it. In Brazil, we see a growing number of linguists from different subfields trying to find ways in which they can support indigenous communities in their efforts to reverse language loss. As part of a volume on linguistics and education, this paper discusses the potential roles linguists can play in language transmission scenarios where there is a minoritized, endangered language involved. It uses a language planning frame to describe revitalization efforts and to present suggestions to linguists that would like to explore and expand the impact of their work. It is an attempt by a linguist to establish a conversation with other linguists. The perspectives presented here do not represent the point of view of local communities and should be taken for what they are and who they represent.

Author Biography

Luiz Amaral, University of Massachusetts

I am a Professor of Portuguese and Spanish Linguistics, the Director of the Portuguese and Brazilian Studies Program in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and an adjunct faculty in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am also the Director of the Polyglot Lab.

I work with second language acquisition, bilingualism and language instruction for minority languages with a specific focus on Spanish and Portuguese in the US, and indigenous languages in Brazil. Some of my research projects study the symbolic representations of interlanguage properties and bilingual grammars, especially at the morphosyntactic level. My applied work focuses on supporting minority language maintenance and indigenous language revitalization through pedagogical initiatives that range from the design and creation of pedagogical materials to language program development and teacher education.

capa v.17 n2

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Published

2021-06-21

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2021): Linguistics and Education

Section

Articles

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