There are more than 6000 languages spoken all over the world. A number of books published since the 1980s give an imaginative figure of between 6,000 and 7,000, but estimates have varied in recent decades between 3,000 and 10,000. It is important to understand the reasons for such enormous variation (Crystal 2000).
Various survey results and linguists have done different estimates about the numbers of languages. As a result, without professional guidance, figures in popular estimation see-sawed wildly at the great range of differences. So, it is necessary to manage the systematic survey.
However, it is poignant to observe that almost half of world's 7,000 languages are likely to be lost by the end of this century. The census report (2001) has identified 92 (plus a few more) languages which are spoken as mother tongues in Nepal.
Ethnologue (2005 cited in Yadav, 2008) presents a list of 126 languages of Nepal. Besides them, a number of languages have been reported as 'unknown' languages, which need to be identified
On the basis of field observation and analysis. This multilingual setting confers on Nepal a distinctive position on the linguistic map of the world and renders it as one of the most fascinating areas of linguistic research.
The branch of linguistics that deals with the scientific knowledge of field research or fieldwork is known as 'field linguistics'. Field linguistics is primarily a way of obtaining linguistic data and studying linguistic phenomena.
Therefore, it is better to say field is the real laboratory of the linguists (Samarin J., 1967).
Everett (2001) clearly defines-"Field work describes the activity of a researcher systematically analyzing parts of a language". Samarin again emphasizes, "Field linguistics can be carried on anywhere, not just in the field as its name implies. Some field work is done by bringing jungle dwellers to a city and is conducted in an office instead of a lean- to".
A number of speech communities, either which have lost their native speakers and languages (e.g. Sanskrit, Mugali, Baybansi etc) or which languages are threatened (Kusunda, Kagate, Koche etc) with extinction under the pressure of linguistic and sociopolitical forces should be protected. Therefore, the job and responsibility of a field linguist is to study and preserve the language and inform the society, political leaders and government about the hazardous situation.
Nepalese caste hierarchy which was established by Mulki Ain 1910 and which obstructed harmonious society for centuries created bad feeling of caste- relationship among hierarchical communities (i. e. from upper community to lower community) who feel great crack among racial groups. The oppressed castes have been dominated for centuries have been forming the unity for different movements in Nepal for their language and culture. As Kangas also says,
… Many missionaries used at least to start with people's mother tongues in both church and education… (Kangas 2000: 224)
Madheshi have been suppressed for centuries. What can be the position of Dalits in Madhesh? They have been bereaved of any national opportunity. They have some reservation in interim constitution which also contains historical revolutionary steps for the recognition of linguistic and cultural diversity of Nepal. But actually that does not seem to be found in practical life to date.
The people who are deprived of rights and opportunities have been raising the slogan for at least their basic needs.
Various survey results and linguists have done different estimates about the numbers of languages. As a result, without professional guidance, figures in popular estimation see-sawed wildly at the great range of differences. So, it is necessary to manage the systematic survey.
However, it is poignant to observe that almost half of world's 7,000 languages are likely to be lost by the end of this century. The census report (2001) has identified 92 (plus a few more) languages which are spoken as mother tongues in Nepal.
Ethnologue (2005 cited in Yadav, 2008) presents a list of 126 languages of Nepal. Besides them, a number of languages have been reported as 'unknown' languages, which need to be identified
On the basis of field observation and analysis. This multilingual setting confers on Nepal a distinctive position on the linguistic map of the world and renders it as one of the most fascinating areas of linguistic research.
The branch of linguistics that deals with the scientific knowledge of field research or fieldwork is known as 'field linguistics'. Field linguistics is primarily a way of obtaining linguistic data and studying linguistic phenomena.
Therefore, it is better to say field is the real laboratory of the linguists (Samarin J., 1967).
Everett (2001) clearly defines-"Field work describes the activity of a researcher systematically analyzing parts of a language". Samarin again emphasizes, "Field linguistics can be carried on anywhere, not just in the field as its name implies. Some field work is done by bringing jungle dwellers to a city and is conducted in an office instead of a lean- to".
A number of speech communities, either which have lost their native speakers and languages (e.g. Sanskrit, Mugali, Baybansi etc) or which languages are threatened (Kusunda, Kagate, Koche etc) with extinction under the pressure of linguistic and sociopolitical forces should be protected. Therefore, the job and responsibility of a field linguist is to study and preserve the language and inform the society, political leaders and government about the hazardous situation.
Nepalese caste hierarchy which was established by Mulki Ain 1910 and which obstructed harmonious society for centuries created bad feeling of caste- relationship among hierarchical communities (i. e. from upper community to lower community) who feel great crack among racial groups. The oppressed castes have been dominated for centuries have been forming the unity for different movements in Nepal for their language and culture. As Kangas also says,
… Many missionaries used at least to start with people's mother tongues in both church and education… (Kangas 2000: 224)
Madheshi have been suppressed for centuries. What can be the position of Dalits in Madhesh? They have been bereaved of any national opportunity. They have some reservation in interim constitution which also contains historical revolutionary steps for the recognition of linguistic and cultural diversity of Nepal. But actually that does not seem to be found in practical life to date.
The people who are deprived of rights and opportunities have been raising the slogan for at least their basic needs.
No comments:
Post a Comment