[quote]
LINGUISTS from the University of Oxford are striving to preserve the Dusner, an endangered Indonesian tribal language, as its only three speakers were reportedly injured in natural disasters.
Two of them narrowly escaped death during a flood and the other was living next to a volcano when it erupted, the Australian newspaper said. The scholars including Mary Dalrymple, a professor of syntax, have visited the country to capture the language, the newspaper reported.
'It has been a nervous few months waiting to hear whether or not our speakers survived,' she was quoted as saying. 'The woman was badly affected by the volcano. She was stuck and couldn't leave, but she did survive.'
There are only three Dusner speakers left, all now in their 60s and 70s. The average life expectancy of the country is only 71. 'This illustrates why our project is so important. We only found out that this language existed last year, and if we don't document it before it dies out, it will be lost forever,' the professor said.
According to her, Dusner-speaking parents considered Malay more important when getting a job and did not teach the language to their children. Therefore, their decedents do not speak the language. There is also no written form, so all stories or history told in the language can only be communicated orally.
The report said there are roughly 130 languages that are spoken by less than 10 people. There are about 6,000 different languages spoken all over the world for now, with half of them likely to disappear by the end of the century.[/quote]
[url]http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_661278.html[/url]
Why do we need it?
[editline]value[/editline]
Anyone rating me dumb, write me a good answer to my question.
To preserve history?
If it only has three speakers, just let it go already.
[QUOTE=farmatyr;29436791]Why do we need it?[/QUOTE]
preserve history
I just made a language
I call it wattabomb
I am the only person who knows how to speak wattabomb
let's write an article about how speakers of wattabomb are near total extinction
[QUOTE=JDK721;29436805]preserve history[/QUOTE]
They have no written language, what history is to be preserved?
[QUOTE=farmatyr;29436877]They have no written language, what history is to be preserved?[/QUOTE]
Yes, because history is only history if it's written down :downs:
[QUOTE=koeniginator;29436812]I just made a language
I call it wattabomb
I am the only person who knows how to speak wattabomb
let's write an article about how speakers of wattabomb are near total extinction[/QUOTE]
I'm guessing that's because you can't get laid?
This article reminds me of this
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLQK0Iebu5Ap[/media]
I really dont see much historical merit in the language. I mean, of course it should be preserved to preserve history, and im sure their history is very good, but I really dont think it would be such a tragedy if their language died out
Alright facepunch, let's all pitch in and learn Dusner ourselves.
[QUOTE=NotMeh;29437089]I'm guessing that's because you can't get laid?[/QUOTE]
What?
Document it then.
History is important no matter what its about.
I can already see them standing over their deathbeds really close to them while saying 'TELL ME YOUR SECRETS DUSNER'.
I guess aging has really taken its toll on Pascal programmers.
[QUOTE=Swilly;29437202]History is important no matter what its about.[/QUOTE]
Which is precisely why I am reading a 790 page book about the nostril hairs of Archimedes.
But seriously, not all history is important is Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing a classic which should be preserved for centuries simply because it existed?
[QUOTE=Zycoses;29437244]Which is precisely why I am reading a 790 page book about the nostril hairs of Archimedes.
But seriously, not all history is important is Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing a classic which should be preserved for centuries simply because it existed?[/QUOTE]
Sure, because it was so damn terrible :v:
But this is a language that used to be spoken by many people, it was part of a culture that is now going to lose a major peice of what made it what it was. You guys only care about space but we still don't even know our full past to a great extent.
[QUOTE=Swilly;29437255]Sure, because it was so damn terrible :v:
But this is a language that used to be spoken by many people, it was part of a culture that is now going to lose a major peice of what made it what it was. You guys only care about space but we still don't even know our full past to a great extent.[/QUOTE]
Don't care me want space
me want space now
[QUOTE=MeMassiveFag;29437667]1984 reference[/QUOTE]
Sexcrime. :pervert:
Also, a topic has more impact if it's recorded in some way for future generations to look upon.
Huh, I wonder what would happen if we ignored Latin :v:
Why does another stupid language have to be added to the dictionary I MEAN man JUST COOL YOUR JETS...
you SCIENTSISTSS
[QUOTE=Swilly;29437828]Huh, I wonder what would happen if we ignored Latin :v:[/QUOTE]
Latin has no native speakers. Why would this language be better then Latin?
[QUOTE=NotMeh;29437089]I'm guessing that's because you can't get laid?[/QUOTE]
I getting off topic, but since you bring it up. Are you a virgin?
[QUOTE=NotMeh;29437089]I'm guessing that's because you can't get laid?[/QUOTE]
A sore subject for you darling?
[QUOTE=farmatyr;29438273]I getting off topic, but since you bring it up. Are you a virgin?[/QUOTE]
I am
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