How to preserve all kinds of languages?

Question

About the revival of languages. On my options, it can occur in two ways.
First, linguists can study moribund languages and seek to preserve the components of the language:the sounds, the vocabulary, the grammer, and the traditions.
The second way is to teach children the language and have linguists advise on language maintenance.
I also want to know your thought. Let's talk over!!

Matthewg · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I encourage you to register.

The correct way to spell the word is grammar.

There are two types of grammar teachers: prescriptive and descriptive. The grammar books you're used to are what linguists call prescriptive, in the way they prescribe rules for proper usage. For several hundred years, "grammar" was synonymous with "prescriptive grammar." You went to a book to get the official word: thou shalt not [url="http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/s.html#split"]split infinitives[/url], thou shalt not [url="http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/p.html#prepend"]end sentences with prepositions[/url]. (This is presumably why you're reading this guide now: to find out what's "right" and what's "wrong.")
Linguists today are justly dubious about such things, and most spend their time on descriptive grammars: descriptions of how people really speak and write, instead of rules on how they should.

[url="http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/p.html#prescriptive"]Prescriptive versus Descriptive Grammars[/url]

Nona the brit · Answer

Different countries have different attitudes towards the preservation of their languages. My personal preference is for a descriptive rather than prescriptive system.

In France, however, I understand that they have a prescriptive attitude, with tight controls over how the language is used and an official block on 'foreign' words being brought in to the language. I've even heard that there is a list of official baby names they have to stick to. This seems quite ridiculous and over-controlling.

I'm not sure if the original question was about reviving/preserving dying languages though. this is a diffeent idea altogether. In Britain, although English is spoken throughout, you mustn't forget that there are other countries here apart from England. Wales has its own language (Welsh) and Scotland has a couple of very distinct dialects and I believe its own language. Even Cornwall, which is a county of England but historically a separate kingdom, has its own language. These languages were officially discouraged until quite recently, to the great resentment of speakers, but now at last they are recognised and numbers of speakers are increasing again.

Language is so often tied into people's sense of identity.

Matthewg · Answer

In France, the [url="http://www.academie-francaise.fr/"]Academie Francaise[/url] controls the prescription of the French language, with its board meeting, if I'm not mistaken, every Thursday to formulate new rules and words.

How to preserve all kinds of languages?

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