Beyond Linguistic Empowerment: Language Revitalization Through Social Justice

Abstract

It is estimated that at least 43% of the world’s languages are considered endangered (Moseley 2010). To address this problem, language revitalization efforts are being carried out across the globe, which include language documentation, development of literacy materials in community language(s), and the use of the mother tongue in basic education, among others. Despite these efforts, however, success stories are few and far between. What does it take for a language to be revitalized? We argue that language revitalization efforts are merely palliative measures, and instead, we need to reframe our approach within a wider social justice framework in order to properly address the issue of language endangerment.