A World of Indigenous Languages - (Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights) by Teresa L McCarty & Sheilah E Nicholas & Gillian Wigglesworth

About the Book

Spanning Indigenous-language settings across six continents, this book examines the multifaceted efforts of Indigenous peoples to reclaim and sustain their languages. The authors foreground Indigenous knowledges and perspectives, highlighting the decolonizing aims of contempor...

Book Synopsis

Spanning Indigenous settings across six continents, this book examines the multifaceted language reclamation work underway by Indigenous peoples worldwide. The authors foreground Indigenous knowledges and perspectives, highlighting the decolonizing and liberatory aims of contemporary Indigenous language movements inside and outside of schools.

Review Quotes

Altogether, the ten experiences showcased in this volume provide a thought provoking synopsis of current initiatives of Indigenous language reclamation movements, the outcomes of their "linguistic-educational-political-survival work" and a notion of their transformative potential for Indigenous peoples and the world [...] This book will be of particular interest to those who seek a better understanding of language practices within Indigenous communities, to those exploring innovative strategies for Indigenous language maintenance and learning, and to those concerned with prioritising language reclamation as a practice of Indigenous self-(re) empowerment and self-determination.

Altogether, the ten experiences showcased in this volume provide a thought provoking synopsis of current initiatives of Indigenous language reclamation movements, the outcomes of their "linguistic-educational-political-survival work" and a notion of their transformative potential for Indigenous peoples and the world [...] This book will be of particular interest to those who seek a better understanding of language practices within Indigenous communities, to those exploring innovative strategies for Indigenous language maintenance and learning, and to those concerned with prioritising language reclamation as a practice of Indigenous self-(re) empowerment and self-determination.

--Ulrike Hanemann, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning "International Review of Education (2020) 66"

I strongly recommend this book as a thorough, uncompromising overview of the topic, ideal for undergraduate or graduate classes in anthropology, linguistics, or Indigenous studies.

I strongly recommend this book as a thorough, uncompromising overview of the topic, ideal for undergraduate or graduate classes in anthropology, linguistics, or Indigenous studies.

--Sarah Shulist, Queen's University, Canada "Native American and Indigenous Studies, 2020"

It is utterly refreshing to read a book exclusively dedicated to Indigenous world languages with each chapter written or co-written by an Indigenous author. Equally invigorating is the authors' common value for and focus on language reclamation movements as they are situated in policies and politics, pedagogy, and Indigenous futures.

It is utterly refreshing to read a book exclusively dedicated to Indigenous world languages with each chapter written or co-written by an Indigenous author. Equally invigorating is the authors' common value for and focus on language reclamation movements as they are situated in policies and politics, pedagogy, and Indigenous futures.

-- "Tiffany S. Lee, University of New Mexico, USA"

The socioeconomic impacts of capitalism and the lingering effects of colonialism on indigenous communities and their language use are addressed throughout all ten chapters, providing an historically informed snapshot of contemporary language reclamation issues and efforts. This collection will surely be of interest to anyone engaged with language reclamation, whether as an indigenous community member or as a nonindigenous collaborator.

The socioeconomic impacts of capitalism and the lingering effects of colonialism on indigenous communities and their language use are addressed throughout all ten chapters, providing an historically informed snapshot of contemporary language reclamation issues and efforts. This collection will surely be of interest to anyone engaged with language reclamation, whether as an indigenous community member or as a nonindigenous collaborator.

--Kelly Baur, Arizona State University, USA "Language in Society 50 (2021)"

This collection of international voices and perspectives - speaking about and in Māori, Ojibwe, Aanaar Saami, Hopi, Limbu, Ngaanyatjarra, Quechua, and Nahuatl, among others - powerfully works for the reclamation of Indigenous languages and the resilience of Indigenous peoples. The authors and editors provide transformative visions of Indigenous futures for Indigenous languages.

This collection of international voices and perspectives - speaking about and in Māori, Ojibwe, Aanaar Saami, Hopi, Limbu, Ngaanyatjarra, Quechua, and Nahuatl, among others - powerfully works for the reclamation of Indigenous languages and the resilience of Indigenous peoples. The authors and editors provide transformative visions of Indigenous futures for Indigenous languages.

-- "K. Tsianina Lomawaima, Arizona State University, USA"

This volume is international in scope and includes and impressive range of voices and perspectives on Indigenous language reclamation...[it] contains many examples of strength-based research. Indigenous knowledges and systems are not over-explained; instead they are positioned as legitimate and valuable.

This volume is international in scope and includes and impressive range of voices and perspectives on Indigenous language reclamation...[it] contains many examples of strength-based research. Indigenous knowledges and systems are not over-explained; instead they are positioned as legitimate and valuable.

--Belinda Daniels, University of Saskatchewan, Canada and Andrea Sterzuk, University of Regina, Canada "Journal of Immersion and Content-Based Language Education 8:1"

This work is a remarkable source of inspiration and encouragement to anyone engaged in Indigenous language reclamation efforts, showing ways to tackle some of the most challenging problems in this context. The book ought to be disseminated through university libraries, community centers and other spaces where Indigenous community members, activists, scholars and others can access it easily.

This work is a remarkable source of inspiration and encouragement to anyone engaged in Indigenous language reclamation efforts, showing ways to tackle some of the most challenging problems in this context. The book ought to be disseminated through university libraries, community centers and other spaces where Indigenous community members, activists, scholars and others can access it easily.

-- "Leena Huss, Uppsala University, Sweden"

We have no doubt that this volume, as a 'testimony to contemporary Indigenous language movement and its transformative potential' (p. xviii), will be an impactful publication that has a lasting influence on the ongoing efforts to reclaim indigenous languages worldwide.

We have no doubt that this volume, as a 'testimony to contemporary Indigenous language movement and its transformative potential' (p. xviii), will be an impactful publication that has a lasting influence on the ongoing efforts to reclaim indigenous languages worldwide.

--Yadong Guo, Tongji University, China and Xuesong (Andy) Gao, University of New South Wales, Australia "Language Policy (2021) 20"

About the Author

Teresa L. McCarty is G.F. Kneller Chair in Education and Anthropology and Faculty in American Indian Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Her research focuses on Indigenous education, language planning and policy, language revitalization/reclamation, critical ethnography, and educational and linguistic anthropology.

Sheilah E. Nicholas is a member of the Hopi Tribe and an Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies, and American Indian Studies, University of Arizona, USA. Her research interests include Indigenous/Hopi language reclamation and maintenance, Indigenous language ideologies and epistemologies, the intersection of language, culture and identity, and Indigenous language teacher education.

Gillian Wigglesworth is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at the University of Melbourne, Australia and chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language. Her research interests include the languages of Indigenous children growing up in remote communities in Australia, the complexity of their language ecology, and how these interact with English once they enter the formal school system.