Indigenous Languages and Edward John

indigenous language experts: John spoke Thursday at the end of a three-day meeting of indigenous language experts at U.N. headquarters on revitalizing many of the estimated 6,000 to 7,000 languages spoken by native peoples around the world. "The priority focus that I hear from all of the experts is, create fluent speakers," he said. "That what you need to do, according to The Chronicle Herald. How do you do it That the discussion taking place." "There been a large focus on literacy, developing books and calendars and dictionaries" in indigenous languages, John said, "but not as much of an effort in fluency." John pointed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon address in May 2011 to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues where he said: "Today, one indigenous language dies every two weeks. Edward John, a member of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, told a news conference that ancient wonders are important but indigenous languages are "the essential component of cultural heritage" and should get international attention and support to ensure their survival. Indigenous cultures are threatened with extinction." What needed urgently is a commitment from every government to identify the indigenous languages in their country and the number and age of speakers so that a global map of where they are can be drawn up for the first time, he said. Tatjana Degai, an ethnic Itelman from Kamchatka on Russia Pacific coast, said her people language "is severely endangered." "There are only five elderly speakers left, all of them female speakers, about 70 years old," she said. "There are about 10 to 15 middle-aged speakers who grew up hearing the language but don't consider themselves speakers." Degai, who is trying to help keep the language alive, said Itelman is taught in only one school, and for just 40 minutes a week. "We appreciate that Russia is developing legislation in relation to indigenous language but we also think that it is not enough for our language to survive," she said. Then, the focus must be on revitalizing those with fewer speakers and finding the resources to keep languages from becoming extinct. "We know there are some languages where there are less than a handful of speakers left, and when they're gone that language is gone and everything — everything about that culture and that heritage is gone as well," John said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.