LANGUAGE ENDANGERMENT AND ENDANGERED LANGUAGES IN VIETNAM

Abstract

By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, which is language-culturology, language-ethnography/ anthropology, along with a sociolinguistic approach, the researchers based themselves on two main methods, namely field research methods of linguistics and expert interviews to comprehensively study the existence of 53 languages in Vietnam, evaluate the "vitality" of languages, thereby indicating ethnic languages that are in danger of extinction. The article presents six main reasons why ethnic languages in Vietnam fall into the endangered state,  including: the ethnic communities’ needs for livelihood and economic development; the small ethnic minority population; ethnic groups living intertwined, creating quite strong language contact; the scattered living areas of ethnic minority residents; the suppression of vigorous languages; and the impact of the globalization wave. The article proposes measures to save endangered languages, including prioritizing socio-economic and cultural development, strengthening transmission, creating scripts, using minority languages in community activities, preserving folklore, and raising ethnic pride and awareness about language preservation.