I found this Ted Talk Discussing the power of learning languages via music
Addtionally, I havd found this website:
The Digital Endangered Languages and Musics Archives Network (DELAMAN) is a network that houses archives of data on linguistic and cultural diversity, especially focused on small languages and cultures under pressure. They have a range of projects and collections that may include musical pieces in endangered languages.
Endangered Languages Archive
- Ngaanyatjarra – Australia
- Chhitkul/Rakchham – India
- Cahuilla – North America/USA
- MWENYI, MBOWE – Zambia
- Cifungwa – Nigeria
- Minderico – Portugal
- Karo – Brazil
Picking the certain languages was difficult but I wanted to pick languages where there was a current effort for local and global preservation efforts.
Despite their geographical, cultural, and linguistic differences, here are some commonalities they share:
- Indigenous Roots: Most, if not all, of these languages are indigenous to their respective regions, embodying the cultural and historical heritage of their people.
- Risk of Endangerment: Many of these languages face varying degrees of endangerment due to factors such as globalization, cultural assimilation, and the dominance of more widely spoken languages. This makes their preservation and revitalization crucial for maintaining cultural diversity.
- Cultural Identity: Each language serves as a key component of cultural identity for its speakers, encoding traditional knowledge, customs, and values unique to their communities.
- Efforts for Preservation: There are ongoing efforts, both locally and internationally, to document, preserve, and revitalize these languages. This includes language classes, documentation projects, and the creation of written materials.
- Limited Global Recognition: These languages might have limited recognition on a global scale, with many people outside their regions being unaware of their existence. This can often result in limited resources for their support and preservation.
- Unique Linguistic Features: Each language has unique linguistic features that contribute to the global linguistic diversity. This includes distinct sounds (phonology), sentence structures (syntax), and meanings (semantics).
This final point to me is the most interesting point and that can help me link sound and visuals together more,