Moseley gives precise figures on who is speaking what, and what is being spoken no more. He notes that as globalization increases, the number of languages that are disappearing will both increase and accelerate, and that this effort will at least catalogue the thousand or so languages of which we now know. He begins with an analysis of why certain languages are not being passed on to the next generation and sorts entries on individual languages geographically, providing precise descriptions of languages and dialects for each region and nation. His maps are especially helpful in locating languages, and the methods of organization makes understanding which regions are suffering the worst losses easy to discern. This is a paperback reprint of a book first published in 2007. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The concern for the fast-disappearing language stocks of the world has arisen particularly in the past decade, as a result of the impact of globalization. This book appears as an answer to a felt need: to catalogue and describe those languages, making up the vast majority of the world's six thousand or more distinct tongues, which are in danger of disappearing within the next few decades.
Endangerment is a complex issue, and the reasons why so many of the world's smaller, less empowered languages are not being passed on to future generations today are discussed in the book's introduction. The introduction is followed by regional sections, each authored by a notable specialist, combining to provide a comprehensive listing of every language which, by the criteria of endangerment set out in the introduction, is likely to disappear within the next few decades. These languages make up ninety per cent of the world's remaining language stocks.
The Encyclopedia therefore provides in a single resource: expert analysis of the current language policy situation in every multilingual country and on every continent, detailed descriptions of little-known languages from all over the world, and clear alphabetical entries, region by region, of all the world's languages currently thought to be in danger of extinction.
The Encyclopedia of the World’s Endangered Languages will be a necessary addition to all academic linguistics collections and will be a useful resource for a range of readers with an interest in development studies, cultural heritage and international affairs.
