The Laz language, spoken among the people in northeast Turkey, is one of many dying languages worldwide. Many speakers of the Laz language have worked to promote the language and its teaching in Turkey in hopes of preventing its extinction. The Turkic government, however, does not promote the vitality of this language and offers no funding for the perseveration of Laz, additionally refusing to air public broadcasting in the Laz language. In my opinion, by refusing to recognize Laz as a minority language, the Turkish government can move towards a more unified national identity. Even if the Turkish government’s lack of recognition does not cause Laz to rapidly face extinction, all official print, broadcasting, and communication will continue to be in the national Turkish language, freeing the government from the obligation to include a nationally recognized minority language in such proceedings.
Before the birth of the modern American nation, many indigenous Indian tribes inhabited parts of the North American continent of which the U.S. is comprised. Many of these native tribes’ languages, including Comanche, are considered “severely endangered”. In the United States, American Indian tribes are given land by the federal government on which they may establish Indian Reservations. Many of the tribes then choose to teach the native tribal language in these settings. I believe that the federal government should continue to allow the teaching of Indian languages, as they comprise the cultural roots of the land on which the United States is built. The policies of the ECRML would encourage the protection and promotion of Native American languages simply for the sake of preserving historical languages. It is doubtful that the government would enact language policies for nationwide revival of Indian languages, as there is little context for practical usage. It is more practical for the government to continue to enable and encourage the tribes to teach their native languages to their people.
