Why do linguists study languages, and what is lost
The Linguists (1:04:29) – (20 points)
(You may find answers to these questions throughout the film)
1. Why do linguists study languages, and what is lost when a language dies?
2. What areas do Gregory and David choose when they are looking for languages to research?
3. Who typically stops speaking the indigenous language, and why do you think that is?
4. What has been the role of boarding schools on the use of indigenous languages? Provide some
examples.
5. What is the conflict between education for indigenous groups and preservation of language? Is
there a way to resolve this conflict to the benefit of the indigenous groups?
6. Since many tribal people are not Hindu, where do they fit within the Hindu paradigm of the
world?
7. What is elicitation?
8. In what way or ways does Kallawya have great importance for Western societies?
9. How is language typically transmitted within a culture and what makes Kallawya different?
10. Why do researchers Gregory and David show indigenous people the audio and video records they
created?
11. Using the website http://www.ethnologue.com/, find how many languages in the world are
threatened or endangered, and which are the languages that have the fewest speakers in the
world. Which region has the most threatened languages in the world?
Instructions and cautions: Please develop a 2-3 page paper in which you discuss the importance of
language to culture, the number of languages that are threatened today, what is being done to preserve
them, and what is lost when a language dies along with weaving the answers to the questions above in a
complete film evaluation. Be sure to use examples from the film or from the website, but try not to use
the words directly used in the film. Say what you need to say in your own words, and allow any quotes
you use to support what YOU are saying. When you upload your paper to Canvas through Turnitin, if
your little folder icon is yellow or red, it will automatically not be accepted because your similarity
percentages are just too high. This means you will need to rewrite your essay to reduce the similarity
index to either a green or, ideally, a blue icon. You are allowed to submit your paper as many times as
you need to before the deadline, but once the deadline has passed, you will NOT be allowed to rewrite
your paper. Please be sure to consult the rubric below before you begin this project. If you use ANY
outside sources, you MUST cite then in your paper where you are using them, and you also MUST list
them at the end of your paper, otherwise, you will have committed plagiarism and your paper will not
receive any credit. Do this more than once, and your paper will be sent to the Dean of Students and you
will be required to meet with them. Anything beyond two times, and you will automatically fail the
course and it will be up to the Dean of Students whether you will be dismissed from the university. 16-20 12-15 8-11 3-7 1-2 Overall content
and what you
found most
interesting Very insightful,
well-organized,
thorough
treatment of topic General notes
about the topic or
film, not well
organized Uses several clear
examples from
film and/or
website and
explains how they
are significant
Very insightful and
clear there was
time taken to
answer this
question Adequate
summary of film
with little
connection to
course
Uses some
examples but does
not explain why
they are
significant Short summary of
film, presented in
segments without
connecting ideas Use of film and/or
website Good summary,
brings up
interesting points
but not well
supported
Uses several
examples but does
not draw solid
connections to
points made in the
film or paper.
Thoughtful but
not insightful;
clear there was
thought taken, but
many additional
connections could
be made Uses few
examples & does
not connect them
to the broader
concerns of the
film
Just a sentence or
two to comply
with the
instructions No examples; no
evidence website
was viewed Points: What was the
value of showing
the film, and of
what value is the
website? Attempt to
answer the
question, but not
drawing clear
connections to the
course. No comments
about the use of
the film in class;
no evidence
website was
viewed
the film is from here https://youtu.be/kaZw9Jynf4o
