No.8 Seminar ： Linguistic diversity: What is it? Why should we care? And what can we do about it?
- Nathan Badenoch（The Hakubi Center）
- 2010/09/21 4:00pm
- The Hakubi Center (iCeMS West Wing 2F, Seminar Room)
- Japanese
Summary
Richness of species and ecosystems is a key element of the adaptability and long-term viability of the world’s natural environment. With a growing understanding of the environmental challenges faced by the 21st century, the global community has begun to appreciate the value of the world’s biological diversity. A similar set of challenges threatens the diversity of the world’s languages as well. It is estimated that there are currently about 6,700 languages used in the world. Within the next 100 years, it is probable that at least half of these languages will be lost. According to one drastic, yet compelling prediction, only 600 of the world’s languages are “safe” in the long run. This rate of extinction is higher than the loss of biological diversity.
Language is much more than just a tool for daily communication among people. Language embodies knowledge and belief systems, foundations for social networks that enable cooperative activity, the cultural core of identity and a set of tools for human adaptation in the future. It has been asserted that the loss of a language is a direct loss of humankind’s ability to deal with the uncertainties of the future. But there has also been concern that linguistic diversity divides society and can be a source of conflict. This talk will introduce the concept of linguistic diversity, why it is important to society, and the objectives and scope of my own research. I will be examining the two way relationship between socio-economic development and language: 1) How does socio-economic development impact upon the diversity of languages spoken? 2) How does the diversity of languages impact the potential for human progress?
I will be joined by Dr Thongphet Kingsada, the Director of the Institute for Linguistic Research at the Lao Academy of Social Sciences, a linguist who is currently a visiting fellow at Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies. Dr Kingsada will provide some insights from his position as a government researcher contributing to the formulation and implementation of policy in his country.