Workshop: Assessing and Documenting the Vitality of Native American Languages

美国国会于1990年通过了《美洲原住民语言法案》，将承认美洲原住民语言的独特地位和重要性制定为政策。所有的美洲土著语言都濒临灭绝，尽管它们在“生命力”方面有很大差异，也就是说，谁在使用这些语言，如何使用这些语言，以及在哪里使用这些语言。目前，还没有对美国本土语言及其生命力的系统评估。该项目将通过一个讲习班和随后的暑期课程，审查现有的评估工具和调查方法，目的是使参与者能够创建新的和创新的评估工具，以满足这一需求。参与者将是目前从事语言工作的土著美国人，他们是公民科学家、教育工作者、部落学院和大学的教职员工和学生。该项目有可能为国家和国际范围内的政策决定和实施提供信息。此外，它将创建一批精通科学活动的土著公民科学家，这些活动包括研究方案、评估设计和使用、数据分析等等。亚利桑那大学的美国印第安人语言发展研究所（AILDI）在描述语言学、语言文档和评估等方面为美洲原住民提供培训，目前已进入第四个十年。通过“记录本土语言活力”这一试点项目，国际语言发展研究所的研究人员和讲习班参与者将开始为部落社区创建一个基层评估模式的长期目标。在暑期课程中，学员将学习数据收集、管理和存档的最佳实践，以及如何部署评估数据。参加者将来自亚利桑那州的八所部落语言学院和四所部落学院和大学，后者的参与将测试部落学院全国网络的可行性，以便将来进行评估。国家科学基金会部落学院和大学（TCUP）项目为部落学院参与该项目提供支持。在语言调查中评估语言活力以及收集和分析数据是美洲原住民社区语言文献和复兴项目的经验基础。重要的是，这种创新的方法对全球濒危语言科学家和社区具有潜在的意义和实用性。调查结果将在网上和印刷刊物上公布，以促进与广泛受众的持续讨论。

The Native American Languages Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1990, enacted into policy the recognition of the unique status and importance of Native American languages. All Native American languages are endangered, although they vary considerably in terms of 'vitality,' that is, who, how and where the languages are in use. Currently, there is no systematic assessment of the Native American languages of the United States and their vitality. Through a workshop followed by a summer course, this project will review existing assessment tools and survey methodologies with the goal of enabling participants to create new and innovative assessment tools that address this need. Participants will Native Americans who are currently engaged in language work, as citizen scientists, educators, and staff and students at tribal colleges and universities. This project has the potential to inform policy decisions and implementations in national and international contexts. In addition, it will create a cohort of indigenous citizen scientists well-versed in scientific activities that include research protocols, assessment design and use, data analysis and more. The American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI) at the University of Arizona is in its fourth decade serving as a training institute for Native Americans in descriptive linguistics, language documentation, and assessment and more. Through this pilot project, Documenting Native Language Vitality, AILDI researchers and workshop participants will begin the long term goal to create a model for grass-roots assessment for tribal communities. In the summer course, participants will learn best practices in data collection, management and archiving, as well as how to deploy assessment data. Participants will come from eight Arizona tribal language and four tribal colleges and universities, the latter of whose involvement will test the viability of the national network of tribal colleges for future assessments. The NSF Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUP) program in EHR is providing support for tribal college participation in this project. Assessing language vitality and the collection and analysis of data in language surveys are the empirical cornerstones for language documentation and revitalization projects in Native American communities. Importantly, this innovative approach has implications and potential utility for endangered language scientists and communities worldwide. Results will be published online and in print to promote an ongoing discussion with a wide audience.