What is an endangered language? As a rough guide, any language with
fewer than 10,000 speakers is in danger. However, the total number of
speakers is not always a clear indication of the health of a language.
In the South Andaman Islands, for example, fewer than 100 people speak
Onge, but it is the primary language of those who do, and critically,
the first language of all the islands' children. Consequently, it would
be considered less threatened than a language such as Chipewyan in
Canada, where more than 4,000 belong to the ethnic group that uses the
language, but there is little use among the new generation.
1. The writer mentions two particular languages in order to indicate
A. a key factor in determining how endangered a language is.
B. alternative methods of interpreting data about languages at risk.
C. different reasons why a minority language might be under threat.
D. difficulties involved in assessing a language's survival prospects.
2. What similarity between the Roman Empire and the present day does
A. The growth of international trade.
B. The shift towards living in more extended social groups.
C. The attitude of governments towards minority languages.
D. The speed with which minority languages fall out of use.
3. According to Louisa Maffi, many people wrongly believe that
A. it is more difficult for minority-language speakers to access
B. majority-language speakers can participate better in national life.
C. their national government is opposed to the use of minority languages.
D. they need to choose between being a minority- or majority-language
4. What problem among minority-language speakers is mentioned?
A. younger people's perceptions of their mother tongue.
B. breakdown of communication between the generations.
C. older people's attitudes to their children's language use.
D. generational differences in ability to access the mass media.