About This Guide
This guide will introduce you to UIUC Library Resources for studying endangered languages worldwide. It is organized by the regions of the world, rather than linguistics families, to parallel other library resources. Languages are not only tools for communication—they carry cultural memory, history, and worldviews. Today, thousands of languages are at risk of disappearing within this century, threatening the loss of cultural heritage and knowledge systems.
For related research: Visit the Global Studies, Anthropology, and Linguistics LibGuides.
UIUC Libraries for Language Study
Centers for Language Revitalization & Conservation
Books of Interest
Endangered Languages by ISBN: 9780262548700Publication Date: 2024-08-06A concise, accessible introduction to language endangerment and why it is one of the most urgent challenges of our times.
Cataloguing the World's Endangered Languages by ISBN: 1317413903Publication Date: 2018-02-02Cataloguing the World's Endangered Languages brings together the results of the extensive and influential Catalogue of Endangered Languages (ELCat) project.
The Oxford Handbook of Endangered Languages by ISBN: 9780190610029Publication Date: 2018-08-15The Oxford Handbook of Endangered Languages, in 39 chapters, provides a comprehensive overview of the efforts that are being undertaken to deal with this crisis.
Library Catalog
- Library CatalogFor more materials and research please visit the Library Catalog
Background Information and Terminology
What Are Endangered Languages?
An endangered language is one at risk of falling out of use, typically because fewer speakers remain, and younger generations are not learning it. UNESCO classifies languages on a scale from vulnerable to critically endangered, with some already dormant (no longer spoken but documented).
Key Terms
Language Revitilization Efforts: to reverse language decline (e.g., immersion programs, documentation).
Language Documentation: Recording a language’s grammar, vocabulary, and oral traditions.
Linguicide: The intentional destruction of a language, often through colonial policies or cultural suppression.
Mother Tongue: A person’s first/native language.
Oral Tradition: Knowledge passed orally across generations (e.g., stories, songs).
Preservation Matters
Languages encode unique cultural knowledge, ecological practices, and identity. Losing a language can mean losing medicinal traditions, historical narratives, and ways of understanding the world
Sources
Endangered Languages Project UNESCO: Safeguarding Endangered Languages Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages
Librarian
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2220
Homepage: http://library.illinois.edu/llx