Google Saves Extinct and Endangered Languages
The Miami's Kee-món-saw or Little Chief in 1830.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, portrait by George Caitlin; public domain
Google Endangered Languages Project
Google is involved in almost every type of research, from asteroid mining to preserving Earth's ancient indigenous languages.
The Genographic Project of the Smithsonian Institution partnership studies genetic links among world peoples and traces DNA markers in order to map and understand human migration since the beginnings of the human race. One part of this project is the Google Endangered Languages Project.
Culture and Personality
Language is an important part of culture and of the personalities of the members of that culture. When a language becomes extinct and the last of the native speakers of that language dies, an entire culture is lost to us.
Some anthropologists and linguists feel that this is on the same level of importance as the extinction of a species, and I agree. Certain concepts exist in only certain languages and other peoples may never imagine these concepts without discovering these languages.
The Smithsonian partners, including National Geographic and IBM, and Google want to prevent the loss of any more languages. To this end, Google has instituted the Endangered Languages Project. The project allows anyone to contribute what they might have that is useful to the body of knowledge about thousands of endangered languages on Earth.
If there is such a thing as a Universal Translator as depicted in the Star Trek® franchise, then this project is the first step. Google has planted itself firmly in the era of human migration across the globe and into outer space.
Many languages are considered extinct, because no full-blooded individuals belonging to those language groups are living. For example, the Ainu language of the Aboriginal Japanese people is extinct.
The Eyak language of Alaska is extinct, although a Frenchman began teaching himself the language through books and traveled to Alaska to perfect his skills until. He is now the teacher of Eyak, but remains a designated extinct tongue.
Many Native American languages are either endangered or extinct and a few of them are presented below.
The Miami-Illinois language was spoken by many Native North Americans in the United States Midwest.
The Myaamia Project
The Miami-Illinois language was spoken by many Native North Americans in the United States Midwest, particularly in Ohio,where the Miami River commemorates the associated culture.
This fact has led to a special project in Southern Ohio to catalogue the knowledge of this language, also known as "Peoria" and to preserve it by teaching a new generation to speak it.
Google is working with Miami University in Oxford OH and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to bring the indigenous language back into use. This project for the Algonquian language group began back in 2001, but has expanded over two decades.
The last full-blooded speaker of Miami-Illinois as a first language is thought to have died in 1962, but new speakers are being trained.
Adieu to the graves where my forefathers rest
For I must be going to the far distant west;
I’ve sold my possessions my heart fills with woe
To think I must leave them. Alas I must go.
— Anonymous
You can see on the map below how far the Miami Native American group was driven back toward the west in the 1700s and 1800s, sometimes after having sold their lands to white settlers. Ohio itself has no Indian reservations.
The United Remnant Band of the Algonquian peoples that stayed in western Ohio and organized themselves has attempted to purchase back some properties that once belonged to them, with a little success. Much of the land had been sold to white settlers under various treaties, but the United Remnant Band would like to have it back and are willing to pay for it.
One of the most important developments in the last 30 years is the living history farm there, run by the Ross family, of Native heritage. Mr. Ross was a Methodist minister for many years and each summer, he would perform the role of Algonquian Storyteller for state fair crowds around the Midwest. I am happy to have heard him speak those stories. Nearby Yellow Springs, Ohio is home to some other installations and events surrounding the lives of the Algonquians.
The Miami Tribe, Migration to Oklahoma
The Last Princess
Kil-so-quah (The Setting Sun) was last of the full blooded native speakers and last in the Miami line of chiefs' descendants. She died in or near the Maumee River Valley (Ohio/Indiana) in September 1915.
-- from Little Turtle (ME-SHE-KIN-NO-QUAH), The Great Chief of the Miami Indian Nation, by Calvin M. Young; 1917; Greenville OH.
Kanien'kehaka
Most of the languages of the Iroquois Confederation are considered severely endangered, with that of my ancestors, Mohawk or Kanien'kehaka, only endangered.
The Google language project estimates that 50% of the spoken languages of the world in 2010s will disappear by 2100.
As an example, let's look at all of the languages I know my ancestors learned, some after a move out of the UK:
- Mohawk or Kanien'kehaka: Severely endangered. A total of 4,040 native speakers of six dialects remained on July 1, 2012. In addition, all of the Six Nations group languages are endangered.
- English: A living language
- Irish Gaelic: Severely endangered
- Scottish Gaelic: Severely endangered
- French: A living language
Three out of five of the languages mentioned above are on their way to extinction, except for the related Google project.
In a fascinatingly fact, evidence exists for a connection between at least one Mohawk dialect and the Zulu language (OSU, 1996). The Zulu peoples migrated from the Congo area to South Africa long ago. Their language is Isizuzu, a Bantu group language, and spoken by perhaps 10 million people.
Where tombs arise and harvest wave
Our children used to stray
We cannot find our fathers’ graves
Our fathers, where are they?
— Anonymous
Two Mohawk Governments
Complicating matters of culture and language preservation is the fact that aside from the US Federal Government, there are two separate tribal governments for Mohawk Nation on the Mohawk Reservation that spans land in parts of New York and Quebec. On the American side is the Traditional Mohawk Council and Kanien'kehaka People at Hogansville NY.
On the Canadian side is the Akwesasne, recognized by both Canadian and US federal governments. It is the second group that operates a casino close to the international border.
It is the first group, the Kanien'kehaka, that has been active in Mohawk language preservation, along with some core individuals on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario; but, It is only the second group that is part of the Google project.
Mohawk Language Centers, Most Speakers to Least Speakers
Mohawk vs. Mohawk
For many decades after America was founded, no Mohawk group at all was recognized federal government. In the 1900s, this disallowed Mohawk individuals from benefiting from associated native college scholarships (for those 1/12 blood or more), native casino income, future reparations related to the 19th century Indian Removal Act actions, and other benefits.
The St. Regis group became the first to be official recognized and a casino opened on the US-Canadian border. In the 1990s, the media highlighted problems related to alcohol and drugs on the New York/Quebec reservation.
Newspapers published photos of reservation police and Native American state police struggling hand-to-hand. Mohawk people began migrating from the NY side of the reserve to the Canadian side, diminishing the already low numbers of Mohawk in the USA.
In Canada, the Mohawk Nation has long been an active political entity, while in the US, any Mohawk group is vestigial but still manages to preserve the language.
Four Mohawk Kings painted by Jan Verelst, 1710. From left to right: Etow Oh Koam (actually a Mahican), Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow, Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row and Tee Yee Ho Ga Row.
Canadian National Archives; public domain
The Eyak People Become Extinct
Four distinct but related groups of First Nations (Native North Americans) inhabited Southeast Alaska anywhere from 10,000 - 20,000 years ago. These groups were the Eyak (dAXunhyuu), Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian groups.
The Eyak people became extinct in the 20th century, in 1962; and the last native speaker died in 2008. Eyak remains one of the Eyak-Athabascan group of languages that includes Navajo. Navajo is also a severely endangered language and if it becomes extinct, we will lose much of the history of the Navajo Code Talkers whose indigenous tongue helped the Allies win WWII, because the Germans could not understand it nor break its "code."
The Eyak Language Project: Following a life-long interest and passion, Alaska Native linguistics expert Dr. Michael Krauss has documented the Eyak Language for nearly a half century, producing a comprehensive technical dictionary, along with a large volume of stories and folklore.
— The Eyak Preservation Council in Cordova, Alaska
Native Alaskan languages in relationship, including the extinct Eyak.
Alaska Native Language Center; Univerfsity of Alaska at Fiarbanks
The Eyak settled in and around Prince William Sound, northwest of the Alaskan Panhandle, as well as in the panhandle area itself (see map above).
Eyak are now considered extinct. However, they were apparently related in culture to the Alaskan Athabascan aboriginal groups. The close relatedness by culture, language, and DNA is now in debate, since we have no native first-language speakers of Eyak alive.
The Endangered Languages Project site already offers several documents and videos concerning the Eyak language and people. The related Google work can save even more languages.
Sources
- Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
- Dayton History Books Online. www.daytonhistorybooks.com/little_turtle.html Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- Endangered Languages Project. www.endangeredlanguages.com/ Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- Eyak Preservation Council. www.eyakpreservationcouncil.org/eyak-culture/ Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages.
- The Kahniakenhaka Mohawk Nation Council vs. the St. Regis Council of Akwesasne Mohawk.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2012 Patty Inglish MS
Comments
Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on July 04, 2012:
Wow! This hub is fantastic and you bring to light such an important issue. Did you see this month's National Geographic? They interviewed people and have extensive coverage of people whose languages are endangered. I learned about this through my anthropology classes in college. I love that Google - for all its ubiquitousness - is doing an Endangered Languages Project. I think this will help posterity so much when it comes to important lessons, cultural values and precepts. Bravo!
Joan Veronica Robertson from Concepcion, Chile on July 04, 2012:
What a sensational article! Beautifully written, and the topic is just what I'm interested in, I have a fascination for what went before the arrival of Europeans to the New World. The problem of the extinct languages is also alive in Chile, as the groups that lived in the extreme Patagonia, have died out and taken their tongues with them. An effort is being made to preserve the Mapuche culture, I'm happy to say. The Aymara in the North seem to be keeping healthy, at least so far. Voted Up, and everything else! Congratulations, and have a good day!
Paul Richard Kuehn from Udorn City, Thailand on July 04, 2012:
Patty,
I think this is a very interesting and useful hub, and I am glad that the Endangered Languages Project is doing something to preserve some of the languages which are dieing out. Having lived and worked with Chinese languages for the past 45 years, I have seen the trend of some Chinese dialects being used less and less by people today. It is entirely possibly that some of them like Hakka and Kan will not be spoken in another 100 years due to Chinese Mandarin becoming a new lingua franca. Voted up and sharing!
Maren Elizabeth Morgan from Pennsylvania on July 03, 2012:
I hope that the Mayan languages in the Yucatan peninsula are in good shape.
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on July 03, 2012:
haikutwinkle - Your words remind me of the communications expects on Star Trek, a favorite fiction universe that has influenced science.
Diana Grant - And to think we have to many languages to begin with! We all could learn so much from each other.
Earth Angel - Thanks for your kind words. I dig until I find the vital things!
tirelesstraveler - Ohio State is open to one-of-a-kind degrees that combine linguistics and other studies, so there are a few with majors in Speech path.linguistics/and certain language groups. Some of the classes could stand to add some content, but the combo is innovative.
Natashsalh - I just learned that the anthro classes at our local university have been pared down in content. So much is not given in high school and college, and now this slimming of classes. I don't know why - we certainly paid enough for the education.
GoodLady - At least the Mohawk. I don't know if I can live long enough to learn all the Gaelic!
Penelope Hart from Rome, Italy on July 03, 2012:
I'm almost lost for words.
Will you learn your ancestor's language?
It's a great Hub, thanks so much. I'm gobsmacked, as they say in the East End of London.
Natasha from Hawaii on July 03, 2012:
Why didn't I hear about this in anthropology class? It may sound silly or naïve, but it never occurred to me to really wonder about language extinction in the modern world. Thanks for all the useful information.
Judy Specht from California on July 03, 2012:
Very interesting article. Nice job of language investigation. Have a degree in Speech Pathology and my best friend is a linguist. While we live the world of linguistics I was totally unaware of American Indian languages becoming extinct.
Earth Angel on July 03, 2012:
Just me again ~ I had to come back and read your wonderful Hub again ~ The social consequences of losing languages is stagering ~ I applaude Google and others for getting involved ~ And I applaude you for bringing it to light ~
Earth Angel on July 03, 2012:
Dearest Patty ~ I consider myself pretty well informed and yet you have hit on a topic I knew nothing about ~ I had no idea 'languages' were becoming extinct ~ And certainly no idea they were becoming extinct at such an alarming rate ~ That is certainly a giant step backward for civilization and consciousness ~ As you eloquently said, there are unique ways of thinking within other cultures and languages, which can broaden our understanding of the world ~ and give rise to solutions we may never have considered ~ I am all for learning several languages ~ GREAT Hub ~ Blessings always, Earth Angel ~
Diana Grant from London on July 03, 2012:
So interesting! I never realized how many languages are dying out. I know there has been a big Welsh revival, and all children in Wales now have to be able to speak Welsh.
haikutwinkle on July 03, 2012:
Quote:
"Language is an important part of culture and of the personalities of the members of that culture. When a language becomes extinct and the last of the native speakers of that language dies, an entire culture is lost to us."
Very true!
And speaking the target language to a specific culture is a kind of respect for that culture... when a specific language loses its importance in the daily human lives, it is easily tossed away, forgotten in the cold storage... until someone recognized the future benefits of preserving such rare languages ...
Thanks for this post ;) knowledge is always good for the mind...
