Speak Not - BookWyrm

No cover — James Griffiths: Speak Not (2023, Bloomsbury Academic & Professional)

English language

Published Dec. 14, 2023 by Bloomsbury Academic & Professional.

ISBN:: 978-1-78699-970-2

(2 reviews)

As globalisation continues languages are disappearing faster than ever, leaving our planet's linguistic diversity leaping towards extinction. The science of how languages are acquired is becoming more advanced and the internet is bringing us new ways of teaching the next generation, however it is increasingly challenging for minority languages to survive in the face of a handful of hegemonic 'super-tongues'.

In Speak Not, James Griffiths reports from the frontlines of the battle to preserve minority languages, from his native Wales, Hawaii and indigenous American nations, to southern China and Hong Kong. He explores the revival of the Welsh language as a blueprint for how to ensure new generations are not robbed of their linguistic heritage, outlines how loss of indigenous languages is the direct result of colonialism and globalisation and examines how technology is both hindering and aiding the fight to prevent linguistic extinction.

Introducing readers to compelling characters and …

As globalisation continues languages are disappearing faster than ever, leaving our planet's linguistic diversity leaping towards extinction. The science of how languages are acquired is becoming more advanced and the internet is bringing us new ways of teaching the next generation, however it is increasingly challenging for minority languages to survive in the face of a handful of hegemonic 'super-tongues'.

In Speak Not, James Griffiths reports from the frontlines of the battle to preserve minority languages, from his native Wales, Hawaii and indigenous American nations, to southern China and Hong Kong. He explores the revival of the Welsh language as a blueprint for how to ensure new generations are not robbed of their linguistic heritage, outlines how loss of indigenous languages is the direct result of colonialism and globalisation and examines how technology is both hindering and aiding the fight to prevent linguistic extinction.

Introducing readers to compelling characters and examining how indigenous communities are fighting for their languages, Griffiths ultimately explores how languages hang on, what happens when they don't, and how indigenous tongues can be preserved and brought back from the brink.

5 editions

Stephanie Jane reviewed Speak Not by James Griffiths

Fascinating

5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Speak Not, James Griffiths' exploration of three minority languages. Starting with Welsh and then going on to Hawai'ian and Cantonese, he takes readers through the history of these languages giving particular attention to how colonial pressures were the main contributors to each language becoming endangered and - in the cases of Welsh and Hawai'ian - the extreme efforts which had to be taken in order to ensure their survival. Cantonese was an interesting inclusion as this language, spoken widely in Hong Kong, but not on mainland China, is at the beginning of its suppression. I have noticed in reading historical fiction from around the world that local language speaking is often strongly discouraged or outright forbidden when foreign powers take over a nation. Maori children were solely taught in English when Britain ruled New Zealand for example, and the long-term negative effects of how being excluded …

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Speak Not, James Griffiths' exploration of three minority languages. Starting with Welsh and then going on to Hawai'ian and Cantonese, he takes readers through the history of these languages giving particular attention to how colonial pressures were the main contributors to each language becoming endangered and - in the cases of Welsh and Hawai'ian - the extreme efforts which had to be taken in order to ensure their survival. Cantonese was an interesting inclusion as this language, spoken widely in Hong Kong, but not on mainland China, is at the beginning of its suppression. I have noticed in reading historical fiction from around the world that local language speaking is often strongly discouraged or outright forbidden when foreign powers take over a nation. Maori children were solely taught in English when Britain ruled New Zealand for example, and the long-term negative effects of how being excluded from ones language, and in consequence ones culture and heritage, are now more widely understood.

Griffiths speaks from personal experience when talking about the fight for Welsh in Wales, and he also currently lives in Hong Kong so can appreciate the parallels between the two. I felt his reportage writing style especially suited this book as he brought the main protagonists to life for me on the page as well as imparting lots of information without the book ever feeling dry. As a side note, I'm currently learning Scottish Gaelic with Duolingo, the language app, Griffiths mentions within the text, so I felt this minority language experience of my own gave me an additional sense of connection to Speak Not. I am delighted to have discovered Speak Not as it was just about a perfect read for me and I would highly recommend it as a companion to Four Words for Friend by Marek Kohn.

aaronhktan

rated it

Jan. 23, 2022