Learning Minority Languages

Why?

Why are you learning a minority language? Hearing some form of this question is probably the number one thing that we all have in common. Time is a precious resource and those around us may wonder why we are spending it on this, something with no perceived economic gain.

(add why posts/links)

Resources

Attempting to learn Chinese or Spanish for any non-native speaker is difficult, no doubt, but finding teachers, materials and apps, that is not a trial. Where I live I could probably walk less than a block and find native speakers, not to mention the explosive options on the web.

(add resource post)

(resource links)

Community

After you have finished explaining why you want to learn Aine or Rapa Nui and exhausted your motivation on finding resources, it would be nice to have someone to talk to about it all. Everything is easier with someone on your side.

Come and join us on a language journey!

This is the place for you. Everyone here understands why you are learning a minority language. All of us already understand that diversity of language leads to diversity in thought. Link up with other learners of your language through the comments. Share your struggles with us, we get it. Does your language have multiple genders or conjugate everything? We feel your pain but we will also encourage you. 🙂

Let’s Begin

How to start

(start your journey here)

(read about struggles and goals)

What is a Minority Language?

A Minority Language is a language that is spoken by a minority of the population in a particular area. It is also generally a language that is spoken as the mother-tongue of fewer than 100,000 people and therefore endangered.

Finding resources, or even recordings can often seem just as hard as attempting the language. In my case I am lucky. Irish, the language that I am attempting, has the support of 2 states (Ireland and Great Britain).

Myaamia, the language of the Miami tribe in North America does not have state support but it does have University support. Miami University (located in Ohio on, sadly, what was once Miami land) is developing classes and programs in Myaamia.

Those of you out there trying to learn other minority languages can hopefully find each other, share resources and attract interest.





Reasons Why I Started This Blog

1. Accountability
I have been plugging away for a loooong time. Hopefully some of you will join me in this process and we can all one day reach fluency.

2. Community
Trying to learn a language is hard, but trying to learn a minority language….that is something else. You feel quite alone. I would like for us all to share resources and just cheer each other on in our journey.

3. Boost Minority Languages
Language diversity is like biological diversity, important in unseen ways. As humans we need the multiple ways of thinking that minority languages preserve.