and so that sounds like a tremendous amount of languages,

聽起來數量龐大

tremendous linguistic diversity,

龐大的語言多樣性

but what that actually means

但那表示什麼呢?

is that many, many languages have few numbers of speakers,

代表有很多很多語言，僅少數人會說

and in fact in many countries, as many as 90% or more of the people in that country

而事實上在很多國家，約有百分之九十或更多人

speak a language at home

在家所講的語言

other than the national or official language of that country.

並非國家的或官方的語言

30 languages including English, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese,

包括英語、阿拉伯語、北印語、西班牙語、中文等30種語言

include more than 4 billion people speaking the language

已占了40億人在說

so if there's 7 billion people worldwide,

如果世界上有70億人

and 4 billion people speak 30 languages,

而其中40億人說那30種語言

that doesn't leave a lot of speakers left for the remaining 6,970 languages.

那麼就沒剩多少人，來說其餘的6,970種

And in fact, more than half of the world's languages

事實上，世界上有超過一半的語言

are in critical situations for their survival.

處在危急的存亡關頭

These languages are endangered.

這些語言瀕臨絕種了

UNESCO has a series of criteria

聯合國教科文組織有一套標準

that outline how a language is doing in terms of its survival.

分級概述語言的瀕危狀況

And for these languages,

對這些語言來說

if there's no children in the home learning the language,

如果小孩在家沒有學習這些語言

if there are only elderly speakers remaining,

如果只剩老年人會說這些語言

those languages are in severely threatened states.

那這些語言就面臨嚴重威脅

It maybe they're just vulnerable,

也許現在只處於脆弱狀態

and in a few years, a few decades, the speakers will go,

但幾年之後，幾十年後，說這些語言的人會凋零

but many languages are in a critically endangered situation

許多語言面臨瀕臨絕種的處境

which means their very survival is threatened.

也就是他們的生存面臨威脅

In fact, every continent in our global world

事實上，地球上每塊大陸

has an endangered language.

都有瀕危的語言

Endangered languages are found worldwide,

瀕危的語言在世界各地都有

So, these critically endangered languages are on every continent,

所以，這些瀕臨絕種的語言遍及每塊大陸

but tiny languages are fighting back for their survival.

但這些規模極小的語言，努力地為其生存奮鬥

In Europe, the example of Irish is an amazing story,

在歐洲，愛爾蘭的例子，十分令人驚艷

and inspiring story of language revitalization and reclamation.

在語言的復興和回歸的層面上，具有啟發性

In the 19th century, as speakers started to realize

19世紀，母語人士開始意識到

there were fewer and fewer Irish speakers and English was taking over,

越來越少人會說愛爾蘭語，而英語正大舉入侵

they started to engage in efforts

他們開始著手努力

in order to see that their languages survived.

為了讓他們的母語留存下來

In the Gaeltacht, those are the parts of Ireland

在 Gaeltacht，屬於愛爾蘭地區的一部分

where the most number of speakers are found,

說愛爾蘭居爾特語的人，在此地區數量最眾

the most dense areas of Irish Gaelic speakers.

是以愛爾蘭居爾特語為母語者，居住密度最高的地區

In the 20th century, we saw things like radio,

在20世紀，有了像廣播電台的科技

Irish Gaelic radio emerged,

愛爾蘭居爾特語的電台出現了

and so new media offered places for speakers to regenerate and revive.

新媒體工具提供人們平台來重建、復興母語

The indigenous language, Maori, spoken in New Zealand,

有一種土語，毛利語，在紐西蘭流通的語言

is the New Zealand indigenous language,

是紐西蘭的土語

and that language has had a very vary lots of challenges that it's faced.

這個語言曾面臨許許多多挑戰

In the 1970s, the communities started to realize

1970年代，居民開始意識到

that the survival of the language was threatened,

這個語言的存亡面臨威脅

and so what happened in the 1980s is that Maori community members sought to

所以在1980年代，毛利人們設法

recreate that environment where language is best learnt :

重新建構一個適合學語言的環境：

in the home.

在家中學習

In the home, for child rearing

在家中育兒的時候

where parents, and grandparents, and children

父母親、祖父母和小孩

engage in daily activities, immersed in their language.

從日常生活起居，融入到母語裡 (註：浸沒式語言教學)

This is the place where children best learn the language.

這就是小孩學習語言的最佳環境

And so in the 1980s, the Maori created "language nests,"

於是，在1980年代，毛利人建立了「語言巢」

trying to recreate that environment which was not possible at that time

試著要重新創造在當時是不可能達到的環境，

because the parent generation, the childbearing generation,

因為父母那一代，生兒育女的這一代

did not speak the language, and as a consequence,

根本不說這個語言了，然而結果是

the Maori language nest model has taken over in many communities worldwide,

毛利人的語言巢模型，被世界各地許多地方採用

seeking to revive and revitalize their language use that model.

設法要復興母語而利用此模型

Closer to home in Arlington, Texas,

回到我們的德州，阿靈頓來談 (註：講者為德州大學阿靈頓分校教授)

only three hours down the road in Ada, Oklahoma

只距離俄克拉荷馬州的艾達三個小時路程的地方

is the Chickasaw Language Revitalization Program.

有契卡索語的復興計畫

And this program is vigorously engaged in making sure its language survives

這個計畫正積極有力的推行，確保語言能留存

into the next generation.

傳承至下一代

Chickasaw, at best, has 60 to 65 speakers of the Chickasaw language,

契卡索語，充其量也只有60到65個人能說

and non of them are under the age of 60.

而且他們沒有人低於60歲

You can see that's a challenging situation for the Chickasaw tribal members.

可見契卡索部落的成員們，面臨的是多麼有挑戰性的處境

But what the Chickasaw Language Program does

但是，契卡索語復興計畫的內容

is they create lots of opportunities for their citizens

為居民們製造了很多機會

to engage and partake in the language.

讓他們參與、投入這個語言

For example,

舉例來說

playing cards with the language allow the grandparents, parents, and children

玩字卡，讓祖父母、父母親和兒童

to engage in games, and have the language there.

參與遊戲，而語言就在其中

If we look to Australia

來看看澳洲

where there's tremendous diversity in Aboriginal languages,

當地的原住民語言有龐大的多樣性

we find an inspiring example of a sleeping language being reawakened.

有個鼓舞人心的例子，是有關一個沉睡中的語言被喚醒

Jack Buckskin, a young Kaurna man

Jack Buckskin，Kaurna族的青年

has been instrumental in bringing his language back.

曾有效地復興了他們的語言

With the help of linguist Rob Amery, and archival materials in the language,

在語言學家Rob Amery 的幫助之下，以及 Kaurna 語的資料典藏

Jack Buckskin learnt his language, he teaches his language,

Jack Buckskin 學會了他們的語言，並教授這個語言

and now his little girl speaks the language

現在他的小女兒也會說 Kaurna 語

which she learned in the home.

她是在家中學會的

So once again, thanks to Jack Buckskin and his efforts,

因此我們要再次感謝 Jack Buckskin 和他的努力

and efforts of others around him;

以及他身邊其他人的努力

what we see is the Kaurna language again spoken by children.

我們看到孩童再度說起了 Kaurna 語

It's not just about language.

不僅僅是語言而已

Tremendous amounts of information is stored and encoded in language　:

大量的訊息被儲存、編譯在這個語言裡：

culture, traditions, life ways, food,

文化、傳統、生活方式和飲食

knowledge about the seasons, climate, plants, and animals.

關於季節的知識、氣候、植栽和動物

In fact, if we stay in Australia,

事實上，如果我們只看澳洲的話

there's a significant oral tradition

就有一些值得注意的口傳故事

among a number of different aboriginal people

流傳在許多不同的原住民之間

that there was a time when the sea level was low,

曾經有段時間海平面是比較低的

and what is now island was then connected land

如今的島嶼，過去曾與大陸相連

where people could roam.

人們可以自由來去

But then the sea levels rose and life changed,

但後來海平面上升，生活隨之改變

and this is something that's found in many aboriginal traditions:the story of the sea level change.

許多原住民傳說裡，都找得到有關海平面改變的故事

And if fact, there's parallels in western science for climate change

而事實上，這和西方科學的氣候改變紀錄吻合

that 6,000-7,000 years ago the water levels rose.

也就是在6000-7000年前，海平面上升

The Gwich'in in Alaska

阿拉斯加的哥威迅人

are in a part of the world with Arctic climates,

位於世界角隅的極地氣候帶

and its climate in this environment is rapidly changing.

這裡的氣候，在當前的環境下快速變化中

One of the things that they have lived on that's been essential to their survival is the caribou.

他們賴以為生的重要事物之一就是馴鹿了

The caribou plays a strong role in tradition subsistence,

馴鹿在傳統的生計方式裡扮演重要角色

and as the weather is changing, as the land is changing,

而在氣候改變、陸地的變化之下

the Gwich'in are rapidly engaged in vigorously documenting

哥威迅人迅速、積極地從事記錄工作

what they know about the caribou.

把他們所知的馴鹿相關知識記錄下來

They have a rich vocabulary for the parts and the anatomy of the caribou.

他們有豐富的辭彙用來描述馴鹿的部位和構造

Elders have amazing amounts of traditional knowledge

長者們身懷著驚人豐沛的傳統知識

about how the caribou was hunted, ceremonies involved the caribou

關於如何狩獵馴鹿，以及與馴鹿有關的相關儀式

so this is a centre of the life ways of the Gwich'in,

因此馴鹿是哥威迅人生活方式的中心

and they're working to make sure

他們努力以確保

that knowledge is there for future generations,

這些知識能傳承給下一代

and that knowledge is tied to the language.

這些知識和語言緊密相連

But it's not just Alaska,

不只阿拉斯加

if we look to the Tohono O'odham in the Sonoran Desert,

如果我們來看看 Tohono O'odham 族，在亞利桑那州的索諾蘭沙漠裡

what we see is a people

我們看到這個人

vigorously engaged in traditional food ways,involved in plant activities.

積極有活力地進行傳統食品製做，和從事栽植活動

For example, the harvest of the Bahidaj,

這個例子，是「Bahidaj」的收成

the red ripe fruit of the Haashan, of the Saguaro cactus.

也就是「Haashan」的紅色成熟果實，這種巨人柱仙人掌的果實

People still harvest that fruit

人們仍會採收這種果實

and that fruit's harvest in June

而這果實在六月收成

is usually a signal that the rains are coming,

通常預告著雨季即將來臨

it's an integral part of the calendar of the Tohono O'odham life and traditions.

這是 Tohono O'odham 的部落生活和傳統裡不可或缺的一部分

Tohono O'odham community action is a non-profit,

Tohono O'odham 部落的活動是非營利的

it's engaged in the language and cultural revitalization,

他們進行語言和文化的復興運動

and making sure these traditional ways of harvesting plants, of planting foods are kept alive.

要確保這些傳統收成、食物的種植方式都能留存下來

Ceremonies, traditional games it's all about health and life ways,

儀式，傳統遊戲，都是健康和生活方式的一部分

and finding that wholeness that's involved in the traditional foods,

而其完整性還包括了傳統食品

in the traditional activities, in the traditional sports.

傳統活動、運動

The O'odham have some of the highest IBD rates in the world

Tohono O'odham 部落裡有些 IBD 的發生率為世界最高 (註：發炎性腸道疾病)

and reclaiming that cultural connection

重新尋求那樣的文化關聯

can allow them to have a healthier path to the future.

能讓他們更健康地邁向未來

It's not just about history, it's about technology,

不僅談歷史，也和科技有關

the Cherokee leaders in digital technology with language.

切羅基族 (又譯:查拉幾族) 領導著語言的數位科技

So right now, thanks to localisation projects

現在呢，感謝一些方案推行本土化

the Cherokee Language Program has with Microsoft, Apple, and Google,

切羅基族人的語言套件在微軟、蘋果和谷歌都可以使用

you can text on your iPhone in Cherokee.

你可以在你的 iPhone 上輸入切羅基語

The Cherokee have long been leaders in digital language technology:

切羅基語長久以來一直居於語言數位科技的領導地位

when Sequoyah invented the writing system, the Cherokee syllabary in the 1800s,

塞闊雅在1800年代發明了書寫系統，也就是切羅基語的音節文字

what you soon saw were printing presses

後來很快地有了印刷出刊

creating a large literature in the Cherokee language,

產生很多切羅基語文學

and a large written tradition.

和很多的傳統文化的記載

When the Cherokee were forced out of their traditional lands in the south-east

當切羅基人被迫離開他們位於(北美大陸)東南方原來的祖傳土地

into what was then Indian territory and became Oklahoma,

來到後來成為奧克拉荷馬州的印地安人保留區之後

one of the things that was quick to happen

其中一件很快發生的事

was the re-emergence of the printing presses,

便是印刷工具的重新出現

and the re-emergence of a printed Cherokee literature.

及印刷的切羅基文學再度出現

(voice-over in Cherokee) The little, green lizard sat on a tree limb.

(切羅基語旁白) 小小的綠色蜥蜴坐在樹枝上

The little green lizard sat on a tree limb

小小的綠色蜥蜴坐在樹枝上

and he would change colours, green and red.

牠能變成紅色和綠色

While he sat on the tree limb, he changed colours.

坐在樹枝上的時候，牠變色了

The little lizard was in the grass and his two lizard friends came along,

小蜥蜴在草地裡，兩個蜥蜴朋友也一起來了

and they went into the sand.

牠們到沙地裡去

At best, 200 speakers by the last count, but probably far fewer.

最近一次統計，最多約有200人說切羅基語，但或許還更少

Most of the speakers are in their late 50s or older.

大部分的人已50多歲接近60歲，或更老

We had Janelle Batis, a speaker in her 30s who was able to speak the language

我們知道有一位 Janelle Batis，30多歲，能說切羅基語

because her parents did not allow them to speak English in the home.

因為她的父母不允許他們在家用英文對話

We had her here on the UT Arlington campus,

我們請她到德州大學阿靈頓分校來

and were able to use technology to help

然後，藉由科技的幫助

create materials that can be used to teach the language,

創造出切羅基語的教學材料

and that have been used in culture in language camps

而這些教材曾被用在「語言的文化」營隊裡

hosted by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.

由德州的 Alabama-Coushatta 部落主辦 (註: 德州東部的印地安保護區)

Technology also allows people to cross the digital divide, cross the world,

科技也能讓人跨越「數位落差」、打破世界藩籬

on February 21st, we celebrate International Mother Language Day,

在2月21日，我們慶祝「國際母語日」

a holiday dedicated by UNESCO in honour of Bangla activists

這個節日由聯合國教科文組織所制定，用以向孟加拉語的社會運動家們致敬

who in 1952, died to get their language recognized with official status.

他們在1952年，為了讓官方承認孟加拉語的正式地位而死

Would you die for your language? They did. They did.

你願意為了你的母語而死嗎? 他們願意，他們這麼做了

So now, Rising Voices and Global Voices lead a global social media campaign

現在呢，「發聲計劃」和「全球之聲」引領了世界性的社群媒體運動

to celebrate linguistic diversity, and tweet in your mother language.

讚頌語言的多樣性、用母語發「推特」

And UT Arlington's Native American Languages Lab

德州大學阿靈頓分校的美國本土語言研究室

was partner on that project,

是這個計畫的合作夥伴

and so we were very happy to be tweeting and retweeting all the languages of the world,

因此我們高興能用世界上所有的語言，來發推特和回文

including Yuchi, just down the street, Cherokee, just down the road,

包括優奇語，已在執行了 (註:北美印第安人語系之一)，切羅基語，也不遠了

and Chickasaw, on that day, as well as Gaelic.

契卡索語已有了，蓋爾語也一樣

Native languages matter. Indigenous languages matter.

母語很重要，土語很重要

And what we see is that tribes in the United States

現在看到的是以語言表示的一些美國部落

are languages which are spoken nowhere else other than in the United States,

這些部落語言，在美國以外的其他地方都找不到

are having efforts where they're trying to support that language,

他們正在為支持這些語言付出努力

and see that those languages survive into the next millennium.

要讓這些語言傳承到下個千年

Jessie 'Little Doe' Baird is a Wampanoag woman.

Jessie 'Little Doe' Baird 是一位萬帕諾亞格族女性 (註:美洲原住民)

The Wampanoag language had not been spoken for 150 years.

萬帕諾亞格語已有150年沒有人說了

They're the tribe that celebrated that mythical first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrim Indians; perhaps you've heard of it

他們是和清教徒移民一起，慶祝了傳說中第一個感恩節的部落；也許你已聽說過

In the years after that contact, that first contact,

在那次接觸的多年後，第一次的交流之後

what you saw was a tremendous literature being written in the Wampanoag language.

我們看到大量的文學作品，以萬帕諾亞格語所寫成的

The Bible, yes, but also lots of documents

聖經，當然有了，但還有許多文獻

deeds, wills, diaries, all kinds of materials were written

關於契約、遺囑、日記，各式各樣被寫下的材料

and in fact, it may be

事實上，這可能是

the largest corpus of written documents in any Native American language.

擁有最大量文獻資料庫記載的美國原住民母語

The language fell dormant,

然而這個語言進入冬眠了

and one day Jessie had dreams of her ancestors speaking,

有天 Jessie 做了一個夢，她的祖先在說話

visions that her ancestors were speaking to her in,

在夢裡她的祖先對她說話

it was the language.

就是用這個語言

And Jessie went and got a Masters in Linguistics, and studied these documents,

Jessie 取得語言學的碩士學位，然後研究這些文件

and related languages,

和相關的語言

and she breathed new life into her language.

她為她的母語注入新生命

She learnt the language, she teaches the language,

她學會這個語言，教這個語言

and she used the language in the home,

而且她在家講這個語言

and her little girl is the first native speaker of Wampanoag in 150 years.

她的小女兒，是150 年後第一個以萬帕諾亞格語為母語的人

The human spirit craves that connection to ancestors,

人類的心靈渴望與前人的連繫

but the human spirit also has great hope for the future,

但人類的心靈也對未來有很大的期望

and heritage languages allow us to transcend the past and the future,

繼承前人的語言，讓我們能超越過去和未來

and to make sure that heritage, that future, that connection to ancestor is always there.

並且確保這項遺產、未來、與祖先的聯繫，都能長存

Thank you.

謝謝

(Applause)

(掌聲)