Presentation on Minority Languages

Assessment 1: present on a minority language

Choose one minority language (or dialect of a major language) in the study area and prepare for week 10 a short, maximum 10-slide presentation.

Here are some ideas for what you can talk about. You don't have to cover all of them, better to have some interesting detail than be too broad.

• Introduction (Obligatory)
  • Name of the language
  • Location where the language is spoken
  • Number of speakers
• Historical Background
  • Origins of the language
  • Historical developments
  • Significant events affecting the language
• Linguistic Features
  • Phonology (sound system)
  • Grammar (basic structure)
  • Vocabulary (unique or interesting words/phrases)
• Social and Cultural Context
  • Role of the language in the community
  • Cultural practices associated with the language
  • Traditions, oral literature, or folklore
• Current Status and Challenges
  • Is the language endangered?
  • Factors contributing to its decline or revival
  • Efforts to preserve and revitalize the language
• Personal Reflection
  • Why they chose this language
  • What they found most interesting

Some languages you might like to talk about:

• Ainu
• Cantonese
• Cham
• Hainanese
• Hokkien
• Japanese dialects (Kansai, Kantou, Tohoku, Kyushu, ... )
• Javanese
• Naxi
• Okinawan
• Southern Min (Taiwanese)
• Sundanese
• Teochew
• Tibetan
• Zhuang
• any of the local languages in Indonesia or Philippines
• any indigenous language of Taiwan