Why is it important for language teachers to know about language maintenance and language shift?
Diskusi 5 Sociolinguistics and Language Teaching
Upon
completing the course, students are expected to understand language
maintenance, language shift, language maintenance, and language shift, and
their implication to EFL Teaching. Therefore, you will need to read your BMP
Module-5, Materi Inisiasi 5, and some additional materials provided before you
answer the questions.
Discuss
the following questions:
Why
is it important for language teachers to know about language maintenance and
language shift?
This
is an individual task. Please complete the discussion task on time. You are
also expected to respond to your colleagues’ answers.
Answer:
According to Fishman (1991), language
maintenance refers to the actions taken by a language community to
ensure the continued use and transmission of their language from one generation
to the next, despite pressures to shift to a dominant language. This can
involve various efforts, such as language education programs, cultural events,
media production, and the use of the language in formal contexts such as
education and government. The goal of language maintenance is to
preserve linguistic and cultural diversity and maintain the social and
political power of the community.
In contrast, language shift refers to
the gradual adoption of a new language by a language community, often as a
result of social, economic, or political pressures. This can result in a
decrease in the use of the original language, a decrease in the number of
speakers, and a decrease in the use of the language in formal contexts.
Language shift can lead to the loss of linguistic and cultural diversity and a
decrease in the social and political power of the community.
Fishman (1991) argues that language shift is
a natural and expected process in multilingual societies, but it can be
problematic when it results in the loss of important cultural and linguistic
traditions. He advocates for language maintenance efforts to support endangered
languages and promote their use, such as through language revitalization
programs and the promotion of bilingualism. The goal of these
efforts is to reverse language shift and preserve linguistic and cultural
diversity.
Language teachers should have an understanding of
language maintenance and shift because these concepts have significant
implications for language learning and teaching. Language shift occurs when a
community abandons their traditional language and adopts another language,
often due to external pressures like globalization and assimilation.
Conversely, language maintenance refers to the efforts made by a community to
preserve their traditional language and ensure its continued use.
To support language maintenance and reverse language
shift, it is important for language teachers to be aware of these concepts. By
understanding the reasons behind language shift and the factors that contribute
to language maintenance, teachers can develop effective teaching strategies
that promote the use and preservation of endangered languages.
Moreover, teachers can also play a vital role in
raising awareness within their communities about the importance of language
maintenance and shift reversal. They can work with community leaders, families,
and other educators to emphasize the value of traditional languages and foster
a supportive environment for their continued use. For language teachers who
wish to promote linguistic diversity and support language revitalization
efforts, having knowledge of language maintenance and shift is critical.
Here are a few reasons why it is important for
language teachers to know about language maintenance and language shift,
according to Fishman (1991):
- Language revitalization: Language teachers can play an important role in language revitalization efforts aimed at reversing language shift and promoting language maintenance. By understanding the factors that contribute to language shift and the strategies that can be used to promote language maintenance, teachers can design effective language teaching programs that support language revitalization.
- Language policy: Language teachers need to be aware of language policies at the national, regional, or local level that impact language use and maintenance. This knowledge can help teachers design language teaching programs that are consistent with language policies and promote language maintenance.
- Language attitudes: Language teachers can influence language attitudes among their students and promote positive attitudes towards multilingualism and language diversity. By teaching students about the value of their own language and culture and the importance of maintaining linguistic and cultural diversity, teachers can promote language maintenance and help prevent language shifts.
- Pedagogy: Knowledge of language maintenance and language shift can inform language teaching pedagogy and help teachers design effective language teaching methods that promote language maintenance. For example, teachers can incorporate cultural elements and encourage the use of language in informal and formal contexts to promote language use and maintenance.
Fought (2002) discusses several factors that language
teachers should be aware of when considering language maintenance and language
shift:
- Demographic factors: The size and growth rate of a language community, as well as the age and gender distribution of its members, can affect language maintenance and shift.
- Social factors: The social status and prestige of a language, the attitudes of majority and minority language speakers towards each other and their languages, and the degree of bilingualism and code-switching in a community can all play a role in language maintenance and shift.
- Linguistic factors: The complexity and diversity of a language, its written tradition, and its relationship to other languages can also impact language maintenance and shift.
- Economic factors: The availability of jobs and economic opportunities that require knowledge of a particular language can influence language use and maintenance.
- Political factors: Language policies and political decisions can have a significant impact on language use and maintenance, particularly in situations where a minority language is in competition with a dominant language.
So, understanding language maintenance and language
shift is important for language teachers because it can help them play a role
in preserving linguistic and cultural diversity and promoting language
education. By promoting language maintenance, language teachers can help ensure
that all students have access to high-quality language education and that
endangered languages are preserved for future generations. By understanding
language shift, language teachers can also better understand the factors that
influence language use and help support language learners who are navigating
language change. And Language teachers should be aware of several factors that
language teachers should be aware of when considering language maintenance and
language shift to understand how they can influence language use and
maintenance in order to better support language learners and promote language
diversity.
Reference:
Fishman, J. A. 1991.
Reversing language shift: Theoretical and empirical foundations of assistance
to threatened languages. Multilingual Matters.
Fought, C. 2002. Language and Ethnicity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.