Introduction
Reviving elements of history to enjoy it in the present is a practice we have adopted for long. Language, as with everything else, disappears as soon as the followers or people who practice them decide to move onto something better. At times its’ impractical grammar but more often than not, it’s usually a change in the social dynamics that lead to a language disappearing from the face of the planet. Very seldom do languages recover from that fall and those that do usually do not regain its’ status as a popular language.
However, there are exceptions. Often lead by linguists or traditionalists, a revival of native tongues is gaining popularity.
Here are a few languages that are making a comeback:
Belarusian
It is the official language, along with Russian, of the European nation of Belarus. Belarus was a nation that went through Polonization and Russification during which the native tongue of Belarusian was neglected. After the fall of the Soviet Union, there was an attempt to revive the language, as there was a growing interest in understanding the Belarusian culture, heritage, and language.
Cornish
Cornish is one of the few languages that can be said to have undergone a successful revival. It was popular among the tiny community of Cornwall in the United Kingdom, until the latter part of the 18th century. Over the next few centuries, the language lost its’ followers and it was only in the 20th century, due to the Celtic revival, the language came into the foray again. Linguists say the revival was possible because, fragments of the language, including significant literature and grammar, survived the path towards extinction. In the present, Cornish speakers are growing by thousands and the language is actively taught in some schools, owing to which the UNESCO has changed the language status from ‘extinct’ to ‘critically endangered’.
Hawaiian
Hawaii needs no introduction or description. Known as the paradise on earth, Hawaiian is the language of the largest island in the North Pacific archipelago. Another language that is heading in the right direction towards revival, Hawaiian lost popularity in the islands due to non-uniformity in the practicing of the language in the various islands. Out of the seven islands, only Ni`ihau continued to practice Hawaiian as the rest chose to use English as a replacement. Recently, there have been serious efforts to revive the language. There are now schools and radio stations as well as newspapers that have segments dedicated solely to the Hawaiian language.
Latin
As mentioned in the post titled Why Learn Latin? It’s A Dead Language, After All, there is a common misconception that a language is dead if it lacks native speakers. Despite having very few native speakers, Latin is widely used in the modern world and continues to thrive as a primary language when it comes to naming new discoveries in the field of science and medicine. It might not have followed the norms of language revival but it is still alive and can be considered as a language that has undergone a partial revival.
Manx
Manx is a language spoken in the Isle of Man which is in the Irish Sea. Manx died out during the start of the 19th century. Towards the end of the 19th century, a revival was made possible by language enthusiasts who relied on living native speakers of the language to learn the language. There was a phase where there were no living members during which Manx ceased to exist. In the recent past, however, with the help of dedicated radio channels that have its’ programs in Manx, the popularity of the language has been growing steadily. In 2012, there were sixty-nine pupils who were enrolled in formal education using Manx as a medium of instruction.
Māori
Maori is the indigenous language of New Zealand that was extinct by the beginning of the 20th century. However, efforts were made in the recent past to reintroduced Maori as a spoken language. The New Zealand national rugby team uses the Maori ceremonial war dance known as the ‘Hakka’ before every match, which has contributed to the popularity of the Maori language and culture.
Occitan Gascon
Another success story among language revivals, the Aranese language, a standardized form of the Pyrenean Gascon variety of the Occitan was considered to be endangered and only spoken by older people. The language is now experiencing a rebirth as it now enjoys the status as the co-official language, along with Catalan and Castilian, of Catalonia.
Do you know of any other language that has been revived and should be included in this list? If so, let us know in the comments section below.
Andrie Steliou
Latest posts by Andrie Steliou (see all)
- 8 Ways to Help Keep Your Child Focused and Engaged in Online Learning - October 19, 2022
- How to Improve Social Intelligence Skills? - May 10, 2022
- How to Improve Organizational Skills at Workplace? - May 6, 2022