LINGUIST List 7.1595

Mon Nov 11 1996

FYI: The Endangered Language Fund, Inc.

Editor for this issue: Ljuba Veselinova <lveselinemunix.emich.edu>

Directory

1. whalenhaskins.yale.edu, THE ENDANGERED LANGUAGE FUND, INC.

 Announcing the Creation of

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 <> THE ENDANGERED LANGUAGE FUND, INC. <>
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This is a new, non-profit U.S. corporation dedicated to:

* The scientific study of endangered languages
* Support of native community attempts to maintain an 
 endangered language's viability
* Dissemination of the results of those efforts both to
 the native communities and the scholarly world

The Board of Directors consists of:

Douglas H. WHALEN (Haskins Laboratories; President)
Stephen R. ANDERSON (Yale U.)
Rebecca BENDING (Yakima/Nez Perce)
C. J. CHERRYH (author and classicist)
Noam CHOMSKY (MIT)
Melissa FAWCETT (Historian of the Mohegan Tribe)
Durbin FEELING (Tribal Linguist, Cherokee Nation)
Dennis HOLT (Southern Connecticut SU; Secretary/Treasurer)
Peter LADEFOGED (UCLA)
Floyd LOUNSBURY (Yale U.)
Johanna NICHOLS (UC,Berkeley)

 Languages have died off throughout history, but never have 
we faced the massive extinction that is threatening the world
right now. As language professionals, we are faced with a stark
reality: Much of what we study will not be available to future
generations. The cultural heritage of many peoples is crumbling
while we look on. Are we willing to shoulder the blame for having
stood by a done nothing? The tide is too large to turn back
completely, but the Endangered Language Fund is designed to do
what we can.

 The Fund will support communities that are trying to teach
dying languages to a new generation. Many languages have skipped
a generation, and extraordinary methods are needed for the 
language to have any hope. Other languages would be helped
immensely by even traditional aids such as grammars and dictionaries.
Modern language teaching, including interactive programs, video
instruction, and practice tapes can also be of service. Even 
languages that cannot be revived can be recorded to the extent
possible, preserving language in a way not available to previous
generations. These and other projects will be supported through 
the awarding of grants to individuals and language communities. 
A detailed Request for Proposals will appear this winter. The 
number of awards that we can make will be directly dependent on 
the amount of money we raise.

There are four levels of support:

Member: $50
Supporting Member: $100
Sustaining Member: $500 and up
Friend of the Fund: Any amount

Members will receive our newsletter. Supporting members also 
receive a discount on one language book (we are negotiating 
with several publishers on this). Sustaining members will also 
receive a copy of the language artifact (text, video, tape, 
etc.) of their choice from the year's efforts.

***FOR THE FIRST YEAR ONLY, we will induct all Sustaining 
Members into the FOUNDERS' CLUB. Inclusion in this club will
provide a permanent record of devotion to the cause of endangered
languages. Members will receive a plaque acknowledging their
crucial support in this effort.

The Endangered Language Fund has applied for U. S. Federal 
tax-exempt status. While we cannot guarantee that we will 
receive it, we are quite sure that we will. Any donation 
made before the award will be retroactively eligible for 
deduction from U.S. Federal income taxes once the exemption is 
granted. ONE THING THAT WILL HELP US RECEIVE THIS STATUS IS 
AN ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE FROM THE LINGUISTICS COMMUNITY. 
PLEASE BE A PART OF THAT RESPONSE.

JOIN THE ENDANGERED LANGUAGE FUND TODAY!

Checks, in U.S. funds, can be made out to The Endangered 
Language Fund. Mastercard and Visa are also accepted; include
card type, card number, expiration date, and signature.
Send to:

The Endangered Language Fund
Department of Linguistics
Yale University
New Haven, CT 06520
U.S.A.

Please pass on this announcement to your colleagues who are 
not on the list.