|
|
Advances in technology and travel make communication easier than ever. But new problems are arising as languages encounter each other. Worldview presented “Watch Your Language” from September 11-15, a series confronting how language is changing around the globe. Listen to stories of how people attempt to protect, purify and push their languages into the 21st century.
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Watch Your Language: Singlish vs. “Speak Good English” |
|
|
Colin Goh—Editor, “Talking Cock,” satirical Website on Singlish and freedom of speech in Singapore; Filmmaker and Director, Talking Cock: The Movie and Singapore Dreaming
Singapore's history as a cosmopolitan British colonial port brought speakers of a wide variety of languages together on a single island. A new dialect emerged, mixing Malay, Chinese and Indian languages. “Singlish” is the popular slang and vernacular of Singapore, but governmental authorities strongly oppose its use. Colin Goh explains why he supports “Singlish”.
Related Link:
Speak Good English Movement |
| Watch Your Language: Pidgin Languages |
|
|
Dr. Donald Winford—Professor of Linguistics, Ohio State University; Editor, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages Around the world when language groups are forced together, Pidgin and Creole languages sometimes form to enable simpler communications between language groups. Donald Winford explores how these languages come to be from the Caribbean to Scandinavia—and attitudes towards them by speakers of “standard” languages. |
| Watch Your Language: “Neutralizing” the Mother Tongue—Call Centers in India |
|
|
Sonali Gulati—Filmmaker, Director, Nalini by Day, Nancy by Night; Assistant Professor, Photography and Film, Virginia Commonwealth University
When you call your bank for customer service assistance the friendly representative on the other line may well be speaking with you from India. At call centers for U.S. companies, employees are required to take American names, celebrate American holidays, and speak American English. Sonali Gulati made a documentary that explores efforts to “neutralize” the Indian accents of call-center employees. |
| Watch Your Language: Preserving the Coeur d'Alene Language |
|
|
| Elizabeth Wynne Johnson—Correspondent, Northwest News Network |
| Watch Your Language: Decline of a “Lingua Franca” |
|
|
Dr. Douglas Kibbee—Professor in the French Dept, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana; Author, Language Rights and Immigrant Languages
The French have carefully monitored and maintained their language for centuries. In the EU, the French government has stepped up its efforts as English emerges as the new lingua franca. Douglas Kibbee tells us about France's latest attacks on Anglicismes. |
| Watch Your Language: Language Politics in Ukraine |
|
|
Dr. Laada Bilaniuk—Linguistic Anthropologist; Author, Contested Tongues: Language Politics and Cultural Correction in Ukraine
Ukraine is home to large numbers of Russian speakers. Since the Orange Revolution, the correlation between language preference and political preferences may be increasing. Russian speakers tend to favor pro-Russian conservatives, while Ukrainian speakers are often more sympathetic to pro-Western politicians. Dr. Laada Bilaniuk explores the politics of language in Ukraine. |
| Watch Your Language: De-Russificiation in Latvia |
|
|
Dr. Ina Druviete—Latvian Member of Parliament; Former Minister of Science and Education
Latvia is a multi-lingual society. Despite its significant population of Russian language speakers, citizenship is restricted to those who pass a Latvian language test. Ina Druviete explains how post-independence, Latvian language policies are shaping Latvia’s new national identity. |
| Watch Your Language: Chinese Language Boom |
|
|
Robert Davis—Director, Chicago Public Schools Chinese Connection Program and the Chicago Confucius Institute
As China's economy continues its rapid growth, many foreigners hope that learning Chinese will provide a valuable skill. The Chinese Education Ministry noticed. Starting in 2004, the Chinese government began to open non-profit educational franchises “dedicated to enhancing the understanding of the Chinese language and culture around the world.” The Chinese government plans to open 100 institutes by 2010.
|
| Watch Your Language: Uyghur Language in China |
|
|
Dr. Arienne Dwyer—Linguistic Anthropologist, University of Kansas
In a country of 1.3 billion people, how does the Chinese government relate 28 different written languages to Mandarin, the language of the state, spoken by 70 percent of the population? The Uyghur people in the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang are one of the 56 official nationalities recognized by the Chinese government. The Chinese constitution grants them autonomy and linguistic and cultural freedom, yet many Uyghur groups claim the Chinese government has repressed their culture.
|
| Watch Your Language: Tibetan Language in Diaspora |
|
|
Sherab Gyatso—Former Director, Education Development and Research Center for the Tibetan Government in Exile’s Department of Education; Former President, Tibetan Alliance of Chicago.
Since China took over Tibet, the Tibetan language has faced a tough challenge from the spread of Mandarin Chinese. Sherab Gyatso explores the state of Tibetan language and education in Tibet, and the strategies of Tibetans in diaspora to preserve Tibetan language and culture—from India to Chicago.
|
| Watch Your Language: Language Empires |
|
|
Dr. Nick Ostler—Chairman, Foundation for Endangered LanguagesHow did English come to spread around the world and how might Chinese spread in the future? How does the spread of languages change the languages themselves? Nick Ostler explores why some languages spread and gain global dominance—and how this affects minority languages. |
| Watch Your Language: Global English |
|
|
Dr. David Crystal—Honorary Professor of Linguistics, University of Wales, Bangor, Author, English as a Global Language, Language Death, and others.
English is becoming a global language as it grows outside of the British Isles and North America. But can all speakers of this global language understand each other? David Crystal explores the changing face of English and the nature of global languages. |
| Watch Your Language: South African English: Oppressor or Liberator? |
|
|
Dr. Vivian de Klerk—Professor of Languages and Linguistics at Rhodes University, Author, Corpus Linguistics and World Englishes:An Analysis of Xhosa English
In South Africa, language has always been political. English was the language of British colonization. But it was Dutch-inspired Afrikaans that reigned supreme under Apartheid—and English at times was used as a language of resistance by African National Congress leaders. Vivian de Klerk explores the changing roles of English, Afrikaans and the many indigenous South African languages in post-apartheid South Africa.
|
|
|
|