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Sallabank, Julia (2022) 'Peer-to-peer endangered language transmission among adults.' In: Hornsby, Michael and McLeod, Wilson, (eds.), Transmitting Minority Languages: Complementary Reversing Language Shift Strategies. Berlin: Springer Nature, pp. 191-216. (Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities)

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Abstract

In endangered language contexts where family language links have been broken, most native speakers are now of grandparent generation or older; they may not speak the language frequently. The parent generation are usually not fluent, but without proficient adult speakers there can be no intergenerational language transmission, either in schools or in the family. Developing fluency among adults is a vital element of effective language planning, if language revitalisation is to be more than symbolic. This chapter investigates how adults wishing to develop/improve/regain fluency in a highly endangered language, Guernesiais (Guernsey, Channel Islands), attempt to move from being learners or latent speakers to becoming new speakers. On the way they navigate challenges such as work and family commitments, gender stereotypes, societal and community ideologies. The analysis is based on interviews with nearly 40 participants, as well as participant and non-participant observation of initiatives that promote language transmission among adults: both formal lessons and less formal activities.

Item Type: Book Chapters
Keywords: Native speakers, New speakers, Language planning, Adult learners, Bottom-up initiatives
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of Languages, Cultures & Linguistics > Department of Linguistics
ISBN: 9783030879099
Copyright Statement: This is the version of the chapter accepted for publication in Hornsby, Michael and McLeod, Wilson, (eds.), Transmitting Minority Languages: Complementary Reversing Language Shift Strategies. Berlin: Springer, pp. 191-216. (Palgrave Studies in Minority Languages and Communities) (2022). Re-use is subject to the publisher’s terms and conditions
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87910-5_8
Date Deposited: 12 Jul 2023 09:34
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/39834
Related URLs: https://link.sp ... 8-3-030-87910-5 (Publisher URL)

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