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Language Documentation and Endangerment in Africa
Edited by James Essegbey, Brent Henderson and Fiona Mc Laughlin
[Culture and Language Use 17] 2015
► pp. 177–194

Development, language revitalization, and culture

The case of the Mayan languages of Guatemala, and their relevance for African languages

Language documentation efforts tend to target the most highly endangered languages. However, language endangerment is a complex phenomenon emerging from social, political and other power imbalances in multilingual language ecologies. Long-term solutions for addressing endangerment must therefore address these imbalances at their root causes. Here we share observations and experiences from the Guatemalan context in the hope of opening lines of similar inquiry into African contexts where many languages might be characterized as threatened but not endangered. We cast doubt on common top-down approaches to language support that see bilingual education and linguistic patrimony as strong sustaining forces. Rather, we suggest that providing development services (especially, healthcare) in linguistically and culturally responsible ways is a much more effective language maintenance strategy. Rather than language development, we advocate development through language. We share experiences working with Wuqu’Kawoq: Maya Health Alliance, a healthcare NGO serving Kaqchikel-speaking areas in Guatemala, as support for this model.
Published online: 22 October 2015
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/clu.17.07roh
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