European language challenge ...
Feb 11th, 2005, 07:47 PM
#202
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Not all Neapolitan songs are old and sentimental. Click "PLEI" after it loads: http://www.my-tv.it/ginotv/ginoflash...=67&show=1
Feb 12th, 2005, 03:57 AM
#203
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"Sikjibosko parlamentosko kammiba bare komujenna, koonen hin aune aro vauro themmenna, hin dou-va, te lenna lenas retta, sar joon hajuvena drabaven elle rannen.Bi doolen koonen hin ajasaave prob-leeme na endo buut, ta doolesko doh besko grupposke na lokke te lahhes louve, te rikkaves lenge skoo-liba."
Yes, that was Roma. And it is Indo-European, although it doesn´t look like it at a quick glance. What I am interested in, how different is Roma spoken in Finland from Roma spoken in Spain?
And yes, there is an example of Sámi already. But just one, the most common Sámi language in Finland. There are nine different altogether, some of them are not mutually intelligible. And all nine are either endangered or already dead.
Yes, that was Roma. And it is Indo-European, although it doesn´t look like it at a quick glance. What I am interested in, how different is Roma spoken in Finland from Roma spoken in Spain?
And yes, there is an example of Sámi already. But just one, the most common Sámi language in Finland. There are nine different altogether, some of them are not mutually intelligible. And all nine are either endangered or already dead.
Feb 12th, 2005, 09:54 AM
#205
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Elina - it's on Amazon.com, where it's described thus-
From Publishers Weekly
There are roughly 6,000 languages in use in the world today, most of them spoken by a tiny number of people-further proof of humanity's ability to generate intoxicating variety. Sadly, the processes of linguistic imperialism may still be as strong as they have ever been; expansion of the major world languages, particularly English, is, according to Abley, likely to bring about the elimination of most of these languages by century's end. Canadian journalist Abley shrewdly frontloads his book with some of the most exotic languages before moving on to better-known cases (which are also considerably less at risk) such as Proven‡al, Yiddish and Welsh. Readers who think they "get" how languages work may be startled by the considerable deviation from Western norms: for instance, Murrinh-Patha, spoken in Australia, boasts a bewilderingly complex system of pronouns; Mi'kmaq, from eastern Canada and Maine, and Boro, a northern Indian tongue, all but eschew nouns. To read these accounts of dwindling languages-and their often forlorn, marginalized speakers-is to gain insight into the powerful colonial forces still in play. Abley's informal approach makes this more a travel book than a language book; while describing the people and places in affecting detail, he sometimes stints in depicting the languages. Abley also sometimes conflates the extinction of a language with that of the people who speak it; however, his contention rings true that the disappearance of these languages represents "a loss beyond estimation." This generous, sorrow-tinged book is an informative and eloquent reminder of a richness that may not exist much longer.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description:
In Spoken Here, Mark Abley journeys around the world seeking out languages in peril -- Manx, Mohawk, Boro, Yiddish, and many more. Along the way he reveals delicious linguistic oddities and shows us what is lost when one of the world's six thousand tongues dies -- an irreplaceable worldview and a wealth of practical knowledge. He also examines the forces, from pop culture to creoles to global politics, that threaten to wipe out 90 percent of languages by this century's end.
Abley encounters one of the last two speakers of an Australian language, whose tribal taboos forbid them to talk to each other. He spotlights those who believe that violence is the only way to save their tongue. He meets a Yiddish novelist who writes for an audience she knows doesn't exist. He pays tribute to such strange tongues as the Amazonian language last spoken by a parrot, the Caucasian language with no vowels, and the South Asian language whose innumerable verbs include gobray (to fall in a well unknowingly) and onsra (to love for the last time).
Each of the languages Abley spotlights, from the familiar to the foreign, exemplifies the various threats that endanger languages worldwide. But many also prove their resilience, thanks to the efforts of their determined speakers and such unlikely tools as soap operas and pop music. Abley meets the crusaders as well as the uncaring, all of whom offer surprising insight into this centuries-old debate.
Spoken Here is a singular travelogue, a compelling case for linguistic diversity, and a treasure trove for anyone who loves any language.
From Publishers Weekly
There are roughly 6,000 languages in use in the world today, most of them spoken by a tiny number of people-further proof of humanity's ability to generate intoxicating variety. Sadly, the processes of linguistic imperialism may still be as strong as they have ever been; expansion of the major world languages, particularly English, is, according to Abley, likely to bring about the elimination of most of these languages by century's end. Canadian journalist Abley shrewdly frontloads his book with some of the most exotic languages before moving on to better-known cases (which are also considerably less at risk) such as Proven‡al, Yiddish and Welsh. Readers who think they "get" how languages work may be startled by the considerable deviation from Western norms: for instance, Murrinh-Patha, spoken in Australia, boasts a bewilderingly complex system of pronouns; Mi'kmaq, from eastern Canada and Maine, and Boro, a northern Indian tongue, all but eschew nouns. To read these accounts of dwindling languages-and their often forlorn, marginalized speakers-is to gain insight into the powerful colonial forces still in play. Abley's informal approach makes this more a travel book than a language book; while describing the people and places in affecting detail, he sometimes stints in depicting the languages. Abley also sometimes conflates the extinction of a language with that of the people who speak it; however, his contention rings true that the disappearance of these languages represents "a loss beyond estimation." This generous, sorrow-tinged book is an informative and eloquent reminder of a richness that may not exist much longer.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description:
In Spoken Here, Mark Abley journeys around the world seeking out languages in peril -- Manx, Mohawk, Boro, Yiddish, and many more. Along the way he reveals delicious linguistic oddities and shows us what is lost when one of the world's six thousand tongues dies -- an irreplaceable worldview and a wealth of practical knowledge. He also examines the forces, from pop culture to creoles to global politics, that threaten to wipe out 90 percent of languages by this century's end.
Abley encounters one of the last two speakers of an Australian language, whose tribal taboos forbid them to talk to each other. He spotlights those who believe that violence is the only way to save their tongue. He meets a Yiddish novelist who writes for an audience she knows doesn't exist. He pays tribute to such strange tongues as the Amazonian language last spoken by a parrot, the Caucasian language with no vowels, and the South Asian language whose innumerable verbs include gobray (to fall in a well unknowingly) and onsra (to love for the last time).
Each of the languages Abley spotlights, from the familiar to the foreign, exemplifies the various threats that endanger languages worldwide. But many also prove their resilience, thanks to the efforts of their determined speakers and such unlikely tools as soap operas and pop music. Abley meets the crusaders as well as the uncaring, all of whom offer surprising insight into this centuries-old debate.
Spoken Here is a singular travelogue, a compelling case for linguistic diversity, and a treasure trove for anyone who loves any language.
Feb 12th, 2005, 09:57 AM
#206
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Elina, I haven't finished the book yet (just reached the chapter on Manx) so I've just had a look at the table of contents. The book covers:
various Australian aboriginal languages, Yuchi, Manx, Boro, Provençal, Mohawk, Yiddish, Welsh, plus - I don't doubt - a host of other lesser-known languages.
various Australian aboriginal languages, Yuchi, Manx, Boro, Provençal, Mohawk, Yiddish, Welsh, plus - I don't doubt - a host of other lesser-known languages.
Feb 13th, 2005, 04:52 AM
#210
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Patrick, hanl, thank you for the description. I think I have to order it from Amazon. It sounds really fascinating.
I just recently had a long talk about the numerous endangered Finno-Ugric languages in Russia, and the situation of those various small nations who are desperately trying to cling to their cultures and languages. It would make a great article series if somebody would visit all of them.
I just recently had a long talk about the numerous endangered Finno-Ugric languages in Russia, and the situation of those various small nations who are desperately trying to cling to their cultures and languages. It would make a great article series if somebody would visit all of them.
Feb 14th, 2005, 05:35 AM
#211
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The language I posted above is Kashubian, spoken by a few in present day Pomerania in Poland.
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=CSB
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=CSB
Feb 21st, 2005, 08:39 AM
#212
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Hi
just to confirm that my second language above was Occitan, despite knowledgable claims for Sicilian !
Interesting that one minor language is expanding rapidly and taught in schools as a first language to several million pupils.
Catalan is spoken along the Med coast from Narbonne to South of Barcelona and in the Balearic islands. The growth took off after Franco died (he had banned it). Even Yahoo publish in Catalan at : http://ct.yahoo.com
Peter
just to confirm that my second language above was Occitan, despite knowledgable claims for Sicilian !
Interesting that one minor language is expanding rapidly and taught in schools as a first language to several million pupils.
Catalan is spoken along the Med coast from Narbonne to South of Barcelona and in the Balearic islands. The growth took off after Franco died (he had banned it). Even Yahoo publish in Catalan at : http://ct.yahoo.com
Peter
Feb 21st, 2005, 10:29 AM
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Did you post Occitan again, or are you referring to the Occitan you posted over two weeks ago, which some of us identified?
If you're talking about that one from Feb. 6, I don't think anyone here ever claimed it was Sicilian. I posted something in Sicilian only AFTER we were pretty sure that yours was Occitan so it was time to move on. They are not similar, except to the extent that both are Romance.
If you're talking about that one from Feb. 6, I don't think anyone here ever claimed it was Sicilian. I posted something in Sicilian only AFTER we were pretty sure that yours was Occitan so it was time to move on. They are not similar, except to the extent that both are Romance.
Jun 10th, 2005, 04:36 AM
#217
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Hi
Here, I have one for you, what language is this?? First prizes if you can guess what dialect it is
Tata ghine cë jee në chiex,
schetruarë clost embri ghit;
jar reghria jòte.
Bûrë clost vulema jùte astu në chiext, si në dee.
Bucnë tënë tëdiscmen emna sòt.
E ndiena meatëtë tona si na ndicgnëmi armikete tënë.
Etë mòj bieme ën pirasmô;
ma lirona caa ghiet eliga.
Astu-clost.
Here, I have one for you, what language is this?? First prizes if you can guess what dialect it is
Tata ghine cë jee në chiex,
schetruarë clost embri ghit;
jar reghria jòte.
Bûrë clost vulema jùte astu në chiext, si në dee.
Bucnë tënë tëdiscmen emna sòt.
E ndiena meatëtë tona si na ndicgnëmi armikete tënë.
Etë mòj bieme ën pirasmô;
ma lirona caa ghiet eliga.
Astu-clost.
