LANGUAGE SHIFT IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES

MIGRANT MINORITIES

The experience of a minority language in a monolingual country can be

displaced by the predominant society’s language. This shift was made by
social factors, as the shift occurs from one language to another for
communicative needs.

NON-MIGRANT MINORITIES

Language shift is not always the result of migration. Political, economic, and
social changes can occur within a community, and this may result in
linguistic changes too.

MIGRANT MAJORITIES

When a majority group with their powerful language moves to another place
it can displace the original language of that place. When one group brings
about political power and imposes its language along with its institutions
(government-education-religious places), the minority will find themselves
under pressure and then adopt the language of the dominant group.

LANGUAGE DEATH AND LANGUAGE LOSS

Language Death

In language death, the language is not spoken by anyone at all. This is due
to the fact that the speakers of this language are disappeared due to
continuous extermination or death by diseases. The process of language
death comes about through a gradual loss of proficiency and competence by
the speakers.

Language Loss

Language loss is when a speaker loses their first native language. This
process usually happens when the speaker is isolated from others who
speak their native language and a second language is learned to replace the
first.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO LANGUAGE SHIFT

Demographic factors

The speed of language shift is influenced by various demographic factors

such as rural or urban areas, group size, intermarriage, language value, and
international status.
Attitudes and values

The slower language shift tends to occur in communities where the minority
language is highly valued and seen as an important symbol of ethnic
identity.

HOW CAN A MINORITY LANGUAGE BE MAINTAINED?

LANGUAGE REVIVAL

Language Revival

Sometimes a community becomes aware of the fact that its language is

being threatened or endangered by disappearance. Therefore, attempts were
made to revive these communities’ languages. For example:

a. Hebrew: Hebrew was dead for nearly 1700 years. Its use was confined
to religious sermons or prayers. However, the strong feelings of
nationalism helped in promoting and reviving the Hebrew language.
b. Welsh: when English industrialists invaded Wales (in migration), the
Welsh language was under a process of erosion. The miners and the
workers began to use English as it became the predominant language
used excessively by the English people. The situation became worse
when many Welsh workers left the place (out-migration). Two-thirds of
the population started to speak English. Welsh people then worked on
slowing down the language loss by obtaining a Welsh-language TV
channel, as well as establishing bilingual educational programs.
(bilingual education)