Mind your language! Save dying 100

Mind your language! Save dying 100 - HRD ministry plans rescue effort in schools & varsities

Telegraph India reports on the upcoming launch of a programme to "save over 100 Indian languages that are fast vanishing"

Various initiatives are mentioned - including

• The foundation of departments in universities, with the intent that these departments will set up libraries and museums
• The teaching of these languages at primary schools
• The preparation of  Roman and Devanagari instructional material for unwritten languages.

New Project to preserve Wirangu

"AN Aboriginal community risks losing its language because too much emphasis is placed on Pitjantjatjara."


The South Australia Sunday Mail reports on a new three year project to "preserve and regenerate" the critically endangered local language Wirangu. The article states that one of the causes for endangerment is a focus on Pitjantjatjara in schools, and states that Wirangu only has two fluent speakers left.

Rosetta Stone Inupiaq

Alaska natives team with Rosetta Stone

The Seattle Times reports that the North Slope Inupiaq version of Rosetta Stone language learning software is to be released in Spring.

The article comments on the state of Alaskan Languages, mentioning that only Inupiaq and Central Yup'ik have over 1000 speakers. And that Eyak is now extinct. It offers a poor prognosis for Inupiaq, stating that children are brought up in English Only Households.

The article also describes the distribution model of the software, with 800 free copies already having been distributed, and that 150 have been sold.

Another project from the Rosetta Stone Endangered Languages Programme has been mentioned in this blog: Rosetta Stone Navajo

Rosetta Stone Navajo

Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program Releases Navajo

Bloomberg reports that, Rosetta Stone, through its Endangered Language programme, have released a Navajo version of their language learning software.

The report also mentions that a Chitimacha version has already been released, and lists Mohawk (Kanien’kéha), Iñupiaq and Inuttitut, as other languages in the programme.