Improving Endangered Language Archives: A Comparison Study of Models in Use

Abstract

Endangered language archives hold important resources of information for students, researchers, and the speech community. However, because their use is often limited to small documentary projects, often these repositories fail to reach all potential researchers, to connect their material to other repositories in the community and throughout the world, and to be involved in a larger body of research on endangered languages and cultures. This research explores ways of expanding the accessibility, usability, and relevance of (endangered) language archives, with the aim of allowing a larger body of researchers to access materials while supporting the endangered speech community from which the material originates. Different models of linguistic archive practice are compared, each serving as an example of an area for potential archive growth and outreach: (1) the use of the language archive by a larger body of linguistic and non-linguistic researchers, (2) engagement with the speech community for heritage preservation and community-based archives, and (3) outreach to inform the general public. The models are analysed with regard to their rationale and procedures supported by relevant literature concerning best practice in the structure and use of archives. Following the analysis of compared models, recommendations are made to implement best practice for endangered language collections, envisioning the broadest and most accessible presentation of material for resource discovery, use, and preservation.