Language Focus: Revived Languages

Here are some interesting facts about revived languages. Language Direct can help you with their translation, as well as translation to and from other languages.

 

revived languages

Revived languages are those that became extinct or had gotten very close to extinction, and were revived intentionally. In the end, a revived language has gained some its status in the past.

There could be a couple of reasons for the decline of a language. The first is when local languages seize to exists because a national language is more dominant. Economic, social and cultural pressures paired with this “marginalization” also cause the decline and eventual extinction of a language. People will prefer not to use a marginalized language as they associate it with their social status.

 

Revived Languages

Perhaps one of the most successful revival stories is that of Hebrew. Hebrew’s first written accounts date back to the 10th century BC. While it became extinct by 200 CE, it continued to be used as lingua franca by Jews even in the 19th century. The revival of Hebrew took place from the end of the 19th century to the 20th century and replaced the use of Hebrew from a liturgical language to an everyday spoken and written language in Israel.

The revival of Hebrew was not just a linguistic process. This was also a huge part of Jewish politics and modernization. Hebrew’s revival is unique as there is no other natural language that has been revived without any more native speakers. Today, Hebrew has about 7 million speakers, and it is the official language in Israel.

According to a Hebrew speaker from Israel, Modern Hebrew is different from the Biblical, Mishnaic or Medieval Hebrew. However, because Modern Hebrew was derived from all of these, an average speaker can understand the old language.

Other successful revived Language Translations include:

  • Latin
  • Sanskrit
  • Maori
  • Manx
  • Cornish
  • Hawaiian
  • Ainu
  • Barngarla
  • Belrusian
  • Chochenyo
  • Kaurna
  • Lazuri or Laz
  • Leonese
  • Occitan Gascon
  • Palawa Kani
  • Wampanoag

Not all language revivals turn out to be successful. The revival of Catalan, for example, has only had some success. Reviving Irish Gaelic, Scots Gaelic, Cornish, Nynorsk and Dalamtian has been never ending.

 

Here is the story of the revival of a dying Ethiopian language:

 

 

For more information on revived languages, and to get the best translators and interpreters in London, contact Language Direct.

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