Perspectives on Language Endangerment: Zapotec Community Members Navigate the Future of their Language
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2016
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Tri-College (Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges). Department of Linguistics
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Thesis
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eng
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Open Access
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Abstract
Although the empirical process of language loss has been well documented through statistical analysis and population demographics, the personal narratives of the individuals who speak these dying languages are rarely taken into account. In order to learn more about the personal and emotional effects of language loss, nineteen members of the Zapotec community were interviewed with two simple questions: “What is happening to your language?” and “What does your language mean to you?” Older speakers, who have lived through fines and jail time for publicly speaking Zapotec, often struggle with the grief and loneliness of being among the last generation of fluent Zapotec speakers. Meanwhile, pervasive negative stereotypes that dismiss indigenous languages as antiquated or unnecessary continue to alienate younger speakers. These obstacles do not seem to diminish the deeply personal relationship that many interviewed Zapotec speakers maintain in regards to their language, however. Often referring to their language as a nurturing, anchoring presence in their lives, Zapotec is regarded by many speakers in this collection of interviews as a family inheritance: a treasure passed from parents or grandparents. In the face of a rapidly globalizing world, where hegemonic languages like Spanish or English dominate, remaining speakers struggle to document not only individual Zapotec words, but also the unique local knowledge these words often encode. The process of documenting and preserving an endangered language often complicates the warm personal relationships many interviewees maintain with Zapotec. In particular, each speaker’s strong familial and personal ties the language provoke questions about the appropriate role of technology in language preservation. Should Zapotec be shared with global audiences through Youtube or Facebook, or should it remain spoken in the local Oaxacan communities where it originated? The role of non-Zapotec linguists and academics are intensely involved in this debate as well. Although linguists from outside of the community can bring with them access to resources, like talking dictionaries, that can broadcast Zapotec to wider audiences, the goals of academia are not always in accord with the wishes of the speaking community, particularly those members who value local autonomy over global accessibility. There are no easy answers for these debates. However, by embedding the interview of Zapotec community members directly into the text, this thesis seeks to allow Zapotec speakers the space to freely represent their own ideas with minimal academic bias. It is clear from this testimony that, in order to be most effective, all language preservation efforts must be led primarily by native speakers. While there is still much work to be done to ensure that the voices of speakers of endangered languages are heard, the insightful comments in these interviews give academic linguists a place to start working.