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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.