Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. alliance (n.) [uh-lahy-uhns] – a cooperation, or a group united by similar goals
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. alliance (n.) [uh-lahy-uhns] – a cooperation, or a group united by similar goals
Example: The alliance of scholars and computer
technicians aimed to study rare languages.
2. linguist (n.) [ling-gwist] – a person who studies language
Example: The linguist made a survey about the
languages spoken in Africa.
3. preserve (v.) [pri-zurv] – to
save or maintain something in order for it to last longer
Example: Asian countries try
to preserve local traditions while
adopting Western customs.
4. implore (v.) [im-plawr, -plohr] – to ask someone for something in a serious or emotional way
Example: Elder people implore the youth to learn their local
dialects.
5. arm (n.) [ahrm] – a section of an organization or company
Example: The legislative arm of the government writes laws.
Article
Read the text below.
Read the text below.
Experts say that about 3,000 of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today may be forgotten in a hundred years. In order to prevent this loss, Google has started the Endangered Languages website.
With the help of an
alliance of scholars and linguists, the website allows people
from all over the world to share and find data about endangered languages. Such languages are in danger of disappearing
completely because the few people who still use or know them may soon die out.
Clara Rivera
Rodriguez and Jason Rissman, leaders of the project, stress the important
role of technology in preserving languages.
They say high-quality recordings of elders, who are usually the last fluent
speakers of a certain language, can be created and shared through social
media to aid language study and awareness.
Users simply have
to create an account on the Endangered Languages website so they can upload
text documents, audio, or video material of unique languages. The users can
also make their profiles and give feedback on the site.
Rodriguez and
Rissman implore people to share
the website with their respective communities. According to the two project
managers, documenting endangered languages can promote acceptance and
learning of different cultures. It can also give the youth the power to
protect the legacy of earlier generations.
A language
institute in Eastern Michigan University will be in charge of the website,
while Google.org, Google’s charitable arm,
will continue supporting the project.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Why do you think some languages become lost
while other languages are preserved?
·
What are the bad outcomes of losing a language
forever?
Discussion B
·
Do you think endangered languages are worth
saving? Why or why not?
·
Do you hope that your local language or dialect
will still be used hundreds of years from now? Please explain your answer.