Characterizes the situation regarding the Gaelic language in Great Britain today, and sketches, by means of examples, some characteristic differences between Gaelic and English, pointing out also certain peculiarities in the field of area studies. (IFS/WGA)

Presents a database of the world's languages categorized in terms of their number of mother tongue speakers and their distribution. The database was created by going through the book, "Ethnologue: Languages of the World," page-by-page, analyzing individual language entries, collating them, and cross-checking them between countries. The…

Examines the language maintenance patterns of nonofficial language groups in Canada, using national census data. Reports that those born outside Canada have a greater propensity to maintain their language than the native born population, and that members of ethnic groups with a longer residence in Canada (such as Northern Europeans) tend to…

Traditional Indigenous Knowledge (IK) systems must be recovered and promoted by academics, indigenous knowledge holders, and political leaders by dismantling colonialism and state government control. While Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) has received attention due to its focus on management of natural resources and conservation, non-native…

A preliminary study was conducted by the National Center for Bilingual Education on the Korean community living in the United States. The study focused on Korean Americans residing within the Los Angeles Long Beach area of southern California, one of the largest Korean communities in the United States. This report includes: (1) a history of the…

Describes the use of Arabic in the news media, worship places, and schools of Arabic-speaking immigrants to the United States in the early 1900s and in the 1980s. Predicts that Arabic usage among 1980s immigrants will follow a pattern, noted among early immigrants, in which Arabic usage gradually diminishes. (KH)

Argues that language shift appears to correlate highly with the development or nondevelopment of political movements based on language issues. Three major Celtic languages are described to illustrate this: Scottish Gaelic, Irish, and Welsh. Degree of politicalness of language issues seems to correlate inversely with the rate of language shift.…

Presents point-counterpoint opinions on bilingual education, regarding (1) effects on children of different language groups, (2) best methods for teaching English as a second language, (3) school's role in maintaining native language skills and culture, (4) segregation of students, (5) selection of students for programs, and (6) issues raised by…

Discusses the growing use of ethnic mother tongues as languages of instruction in Canadian public classrooms. Reviews the development of private ethnic schools and then examines the role, varieties, and motivations of public bilingual programs. Concludes that, despite the growth of public bilingual education, private ethnic schools will not become…

Examines the relative contributions of the school and the family to the bilingual development of francophone minority group students in western Canada. The implications for the survival of the French language in western Canada are discussed. (74 references) (GLR)

English can be considered the number one global language. Though there are positive aspects to having a global language, it can lead to arrogance and complacency among native English-speakers and a sense of grievance and inferiority in other language groups. The paper examines reasons for the spread of English worldwide, discussing the importance…

A preliminary report is offered on schools that offer all or a greater part of their instruction in a language other than English. Emphasis is laid on instruction geared toward the language maintenance of ethnic communities. Language reports include the approximate number of speakers and number, distribution, and basic characteristics of schools.…

Group bilingualism, the contact situations which lead to it, and the role of language in maintaining ethnic boundaries are examined. Emphasis is laid on minority languages in the United States, Canada, Europe, and South Africa. The insistence of these groups on maintenance bilingual education rather than the acceptance of transitional assimilation…

Attitudes and policies toward bilingualism in the United States have always been affected by political considerations. Although controversy over bilingualism is political in principle, it is a particular kind of political controversy, that is, a manifestation of a new stage in the history of an even larger controversy over the meaning of…

The National University of Ireland has rejected a move to drop the Irish language requirement. This is in line with government policy, since 1913, to promote Gaelic as the main language, particularly through education. But surveys show a decline in the use of Irish in the schools. (SJL)