Endangered languages on Facebook and in films

A friend has created a group on Facebook to promote the use of endangered languages in status updates ("Use endangered language for status up-date"). I got excited and changed mine immediately to the first thing that popped into my head in Dalabon: kah-rinjno burrama. Upon realising that it would probably help the cause if I also included a translation in my status update, I got shy and decided I would commence this practice with subsequent status updates. The cause of my shyness will remain a secret held among those privileged few Dalabonists!!

Secondly, via a colleague at Wangka Maya and ¡Pérez Sez!, comes news of the release of The Linguists. I saw a rough cut of this at the ELDP workshop I went to in June 2006, and while objections were raised there (and subsequently elsewhere, nicely summarised in Perez's post), and I find myself agreeing with a lot of them, it was still pretty cool to see the dynamics of linguistic fieldwork and the thrill of human interaction over languages on the 'big screen' as it were.

Perez asks the questions, 'Does a subject necessarily have to be misrepresented in order to be made accessible?' and 'Is a degree of misrepresentation OK if it entails a greater awareness of a critical issue?' I think the answers in part can be found in the reviews published on the film's website. One review seems to 'get it', while others are swept away in the 'adventure' of it all, with lots of similies and metaphors about Indiana Jones. (Remember, these are the reviews the film's producers are themselves using to further promote the film.)

Vanity Fair 'gets it', in my view:

"The excitement of these two professors proves contagious, and as the film reveals how cultural shame and colonialism have factored in the loss of these languages, their incredible dedication becomes all the more compelling."

Obviously, the two 'lead characters' are the linguists, and thus the 'story' is about them, and their interest and passion on these languages (possibly portraying them as 'saviours', to the chagrin of many) - more so than the speakers or languages. But in response to Perez' questions, I think the Vanity Fair review shows that the message was accessible (and probably not misrepresented in order to be accessible), and that awareness of the critical issues of cultural shame, colonialism (which we may extend to include ongoing policies which further endanger endangered languages) is achieved and the value of these languages is grasped through the 'contagious' and 'compelling' 'dedication' of the linguists.

So, to Perez, and without having seen the final product, I think the subject matter doesn't have to be dumbed down or mis-represented (how ever linguists may want to argue about the appropriateness of the activity and methodology the film documents), in order for the message to be communicated. The audience will always take what they will, and in great variety (as seen in the reviews).

I will most definitely be getting a copy, and expect to be entertained and given fodder for critical analysis in equal measure. And keep my fingers crossed for a high quality drama which does even more on this topic.