It is currently estimated that 6,000 languages are spoken in the world. Of these, about half will die out this century. This means that, on average, there is a language dying out somewhere in the world every two weeks or so. In the first part of this talk, Professor Mari Jones, of Cambridge University, will discuss the causes of language endangerment and the importance of studying endangered and minority languages around the world – for the speaker, the linguist and for the preservation of the human knowledge-base. Professor Jones will then outline a research project that she has been undertaking for the past four years to help preserve our knowledge-base about the Norman spoken in the Channel Islands. The project has made accessible some extraordinary work undertaken by the Guernseyman J.P. Collas in the 1930s and which has led to her engaging in some fascinating linguistic detective work – tracking down missing material which was thought to be lost and cracking all its codes. The resulting work is the first ever comparative glossary of the Norman Language in the Channel Islands, offering a unique insight into the linguistic heritage and culture of Guernsey, Jersey and Sark.

Title:       Why study endangered languages?

Time:      June 17, 2025, 16:00 - 17:30

Location: 1090 Vienna, Porzellangasse 4, Stiege 1, 4th floor

               and via Zoom with this link