Speaking of Endangered Languages: Issues in Revitalization provides an overview of the current state of various indigenous languages around the world, describes some local responses to maintaining them, and in some cases suggests a re-examination of the goals and content of indigenous language retention programs. Each chapter presents a case study of a threatened language and possibilities for continued vitality through a description of the history of culture contact in a particular language community, early attempts at assimilationist-style education, the current language situation in the community, and recent local grassroots efforts at language revival and maintenance. Some also include examples of differences between past and present spoken forms of the language, and the implications of these for present and future generations of indigenous language learners.

The authors are all actively engaged in research on the maintenance of indigenous languages, and many of them do applied work in communities as well. It is hoped that the ideas and approaches presented in this book will encourage others working in the field of indigenous language revitalization and maintenance to keep up their efforts, and in so doing consider approaches to indigenous language education that operate at the local level and involve various members of the community.