Saving endangered languages through music: Susanna Zaraysky at TEDxSantaCruz

Summary

The transcript highlights the urgent issue of language extinction, emphasizing the loss of over 3,000 languages worldwide, and the severe impact this has on culture, history, and even modern science. The speaker argues that language preservation is vital not just for cultural heritage but also for practical reasons like medical and economic advancement. Through personal anecdotes and the use of music in language retention, the speaker shows how songs can help preserve endangered languages, improve cognitive health, and even boost economic opportunities. Ultimately, the call to action is clear: learn and sing to save endangered languages.

Takeaways

• 😀 Language extinction is a critical issue, with 55 languages lost in the U.S. since 1997 and 170 more at risk worldwide.
• 😀 Every two weeks, a language dies globally, taking centuries of culture, art, and knowledge with it.
• 😀 Losing languages also endangers traditional knowledge, such as medicinal plants, which may have no names in major world languages like English.
• 😀 The extinction of languages can impact humanity's survival, as speaking a language can literally save lives.
• 😀 The documentary 'Saved by Language' highlights the story of a boy who survived the Holocaust by speaking Ladino, a language that kept him alive.
• 😀 Music is a powerful tool in language preservation, with people remembering lyrics more easily than written text.
• 😀 The brain processes music more deeply than language, which helps with memory retention of the words in songs.
• 😀 The speaker used music to learn languages, including Ladino, and believes this method is more effective than traditional grammar books.
• 😀 Children’s educational programs like Sesame Street use music to help people remember information, a technique that can be applied to learning endangered languages.
• 😀 Learning a second language improves brain function, delaying dementia and enhancing decision-making skills.
• 😀 Bilingual people are more sought after in the job market, and speaking a second language can have economic benefits, as demonstrated by the U.S. and British economies.

Q & A

What is the significance of losing languages, according to the transcript?

Losing languages leads to the loss of centuries of art, music, history, culture, and science. It also endangers our ability to understand vital information, like medicinal plants used by indigenous communities.

How many languages has the United States lost since 1997?

The United States has lost 55 languages since 1997.

Why is language preservation important for pharmaceutical companies?

Pharmaceutical companies need to communicate in indigenous languages to access knowledge about medicinal plants that have been used for centuries by native people. Many of these plants have no names in major world languages like English.

How did language help a Sephardic Bosnian boy survive the Holocaust?

The boy was able to survive because he could speak Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish, which helped him navigate dangerous situations during the Holocaust.

How does music contribute to language preservation?

Music helps preserve endangered languages by making them more memorable. People remember lyrics better when they are sung, as music activates more parts of the brain than language alone.

Why did the speaker have trouble alphabetizing in Russian?

The speaker had trouble alphabetizing in Russian because they never learned an alphabet song in Russian, a common method used to memorize the order of letters.

How does the speaker learn new languages?

The speaker learns languages through music rather than grammar books, which they find boring. Songs help them retain vocabulary and phrases in different languages.

What role do companies like Sesame Street and School House Rock play in education?

These companies use songs to teach educational content because they understand that songs make information stick in people's heads, thus aiding learning in a fun and effective way.

What cognitive benefits are associated with learning another language?

Learning another language can improve brain health by potentially preventing dementia and enhancing quick decision-making abilities.

How does speaking multiple languages benefit the economy?

Being bilingual can improve decision-making skills, and companies often pay extra for bilingual employees to cater to the 20% of American households that speak another language at home. Additionally, the British economy loses billions annually due to a shortage of foreign language speakers.