Literacy in lesser-used and endangered languages

Before VOCES was founded, linguists at the University of Bremen already initiated a number of projects focusing on various issues connected to lesser-used and endangered languages. One of these projects is based on the idea that promoting literacy in lesser-used and endangered languages contributes to safeguarding the survival of these languages. Translations from globally bestselling books like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince might help people to see their native language in a different i.e. a positive light because what otherwise is only accessible through the medium of one of the major languages is now available in one’s ethnic language. Hopefully, the realisation that literary writing can be done in a lesser-used or endangered language can encourage people to produce original literature in their native language.

Owing to the efforts of the Institute of General and Applied Linguistics (IAAS) [http://www.fb10.uni-bremen.de/iaas] in Bremen, the translator Gretchen Grosser and her community, the translation of Le Petit Prince into Saterfrisian was made possible (published by Edition Tintenfass [http://www.verlag-tintenfass.de/]). After many decades, this is the first book-length prose text in the almost moribund Saterfrisian language (estimated number of speakers: 2,500). In spite of the small seize of the community, the first edition is almost sold out already. We are confident that this effort was not in vain. The media coverage alone was worth it, because the dying language hit the news quite frequently when the book was out and even made the headlines locally. Since getting the attention of the general public – and indirectly also of politicians is an important aspect in the struggle for survival of languages, we hope that similar projects can be realised with many more lesser-used languages all over the globe.