[sotd] Languages of the World [March 6, 2008]
- From: "The Site of the Day" <sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:41:38 -0400
Site of the Day, for Thursday, March 6, 2008
Languages of the World
Today's site, from the U.S. government's National Virtual Translation
Service, presents an exploration, for the non-academic, on the diversity
and characteristics on some of the planet's more than six thousand
languages. Gentle Subscribers will discover an enlightening and fascinating
look at the origins and evolution of language, as well as the current state
of some on the endangered list.
"The main purpose of this website is to provide information about the
language families of the world and their most important and populous
members, including their history, status, their linguistic characteristics,
and their writing in as simple and concise a way as possible. We base this
website on the belief that all languages have evolved from the need of
human beings to express their thoughts, beliefs, and desires, that all
languages meet the social, psychological, and survival needs of people who
use them. In this sense, all languages, no matter how small and remote, are
equal. All equally deserve study because all of them provide valuable
insights into human nature." - from the website
The core of the exhibit, the "About Language" section, delves into the
development of language and the two main theories which try explain its
origins. Further topics discuss the distribution of various languages
around the world, as well as those which may be facing extinction.
Additional material is presented on language families and branches, such as
Uralic and Into-European, while another theme deals with various aspects of
the written word. Interesting statistics on language and the Internet
reveal the top ten languages and the percentage of users of each of these.
The Interactive Language section highlights a language map with a global
overview, while more than one hundred languages are featured in the World
Language section, with notes on their history, structure, sound system and
writing.
Canter over to the site for an extensive and informative exhibit on
language at:
http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/
A.M. Holm
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