Our catch phrase is on its way.
Dear Fellow Earthlings,
Reading something as dynamic as the ideas Fishman has put forth in “Reversing Language Shift” – and then digesting its contents is no easy matter. However, since the application of Fishman’s ideas with Jingles theory offers hope for speakers of Seneca (and other beleaguered languages, as well), I persevere.
The final chapter of “Reversing Language Shift” is entitled “Theoretical Recapitulation: What is Reversing Language Shift (RLS) and How Can it Succeed?”. The main gist of this chapter is that if the “mainstreamers” (the community at large – and not just those members of the community whose language is beleaguered) see efforts to bring back, say (for our immediate purposes) Seneca, as bordering on the “irrational” and “the mystic”, then there is no way that the beleaguered language can be restored to its former vitality. Blocking the effort to revitalize Seneca are speakers (be they of Seneca ethnicity or otherwise) who feel not much, if anything, can be gained even if Seneca were to be “brought back” from the brink.. How to gain the support of the community at large (English speakers) in helping Seneca “come back” is an issue which can be discussed within the framework of the contents of Chapter 14.
As Fishman writes, “Successful RLS implies remaking social reality and that is very hard for minorities to do.” Applying Fishman’s eight-stage model for enabling a language in distress to regain at least the hope of survival – and hopefully, a societal equity of sorts with the major language of the community, is NOT an easy thing to do. Treatments for the deteriorating condition of the beleaguered language (in this case, Seneca) must, I feel, address the physical aspect of the language. Otherwise, we shall have a language with a phonological system more or less identical to that of English – much as the English of India is spoken as, in terms of its phonology, just another Hindustani dialect. By putting a “feel” for Seneca into the mouths and throats of the Seneca people, we can increase their confidence that their language lives. Much as an unborn child’s movements just prior to its being released from the womb signal that it is “alive and kicking”, so can the sensations of producing nativelike gaënö’ allow people to feel that "Seneca lives"!
The transition of the Seneca people from monolingual speakers of North American English to Seneca/English bilinguals stands no chance for success unless gaënö’ are used to bridge the gap between the ethnic Seneca community and the English speaking community (which, at present, comprises both ethnic Seneca people and people of other ethnicities). Experience shows that even some non-Seneca people will become “hooked” by the “good feeling” derived from producing nativelike renditions of gaënö’. Forward thinking Seneca must grow accustomed to the reality that even if Seneca survives as a language, it will have to be shared with non-Seneca people in certain situations. But, thankfully, Seneca will have survived!
Steve Walker, Earthsaver and Jingles Creator
© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.