Language survey
Encyclopedia
A language survey is conducted around the world for a variety of reasons.
As with any form of research
, the methods used depend on the questions that the researchers are trying to answer. Also, the reliability of the results varies according to the method and the rigor with which it is applied, proper sampling technique, etc.
late in the 19th century (Sociolinguistics research in India
) and the Survey of Language Use and Language Teaching in East Africa, sponsored by the Ford Foundation
from the 1960’s. Both resulted in a number of volumes describing locations of languages, patterns of multilingualism, language classification, and also included descriptions of languages, such as Language in Ethiopia (Bender
, Bowen, Cooper, and Ferguson
1976). The single agency conducting the most language surveys around the world is SIL International
(Summer Institute of Linguistics). The results of many of their surveys are posted on the web: http://www.sil.org/silesr.
Surveys have usually been conducted among spoken languages. However, in recent years, surveys have also been done among users of sign language
s (Bickford 1991, Woodward 1991, 1993, 1996, Parkhurst & Parkhurst 1998).
- measuring people’s ability to speak and understand another language (usually community based, not school based) (multilingualismMultilingualismMultilingualism is the act of using, or promoting the use of, multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of...
) - studying people’s attitudes about different languages (Rensch 1993)
- evaluating the differences and similarities in speech of communities that speak related speech forms, noting comprehension or collecting details of linguistic form (dialectologyDialectologyDialectology is the scientific study of linguistic dialect, a sub-field of sociolinguistics. It studies variations in language based primarily on geographic distribution and their associated features...
) (Labov 1982, Backstrom 1992, Egland 1978) - assessing the vitality of languages that may be disappearing (language deathLanguage deathIn linguistics, language death is a process that affects speech communities where the level of linguistic competence that speakers possess of a given language variety is decreased, eventually resulting in no native and/or fluent speakers of the variety...
) (Statistic Canada 1993, Ferreira and Holbrook 2002) - doing initial descriptions of languages in areas that are linguistically undescribed (King and King 1984)
Methods
Methods used in language surveys depend on the questions that the survey is trying to answer. Methods used include collecting word lists (Bender 1971), playing recorded texts to assess comprehension (Casad 1974), sentence repetition tests (Radloff 1991), questionnaires (Hochstetler and Tillinghast 1996), group and individual interviews, retelling of stories (McKinnies and Priestly 2004), direct observation (Cooper and Carpenter 1976), and even internet surveys (tafesilafai.org).As with any form of research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
, the methods used depend on the questions that the researchers are trying to answer. Also, the reliability of the results varies according to the method and the rigor with which it is applied, proper sampling technique, etc.
Applications
The results of language surveys are use for a variety of purposes. One of the most common is in making decisions for implementing educational programs. The results have also been used for making decision for language development work (Holbrook, 2001). And of course, academics are always interested in the results of any language survey.Agencies
Surveys have also been conducted by ethnic associations (Saskatchewan 1991), NGO’s (Toba, et al. 2002), foundations (Pew Hispanic Center 2004), etc. Often such groups work together (Clifton 2002). Some large and notable surveys include the Language Survey of India which was begun by George Abraham GriersonGeorge Abraham Grierson
Sir George Abraham Grierson OM KCIE was born to a prominent Dublin family in 1851. His father and grandfather, both also named George, were well-known printers and publishers.-Biography:Educated at St...
late in the 19th century (Sociolinguistics research in India
Sociolinguistics research in India
Sociolinguistic research in India is the study of how the Indian society affects and is affected by the languages of the country.India is a highly multilingual nation, where many languages are spoken and also studied, both as part of linguistics and with the aim of aiding community development...
) and the Survey of Language Use and Language Teaching in East Africa, sponsored by the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
from the 1960’s. Both resulted in a number of volumes describing locations of languages, patterns of multilingualism, language classification, and also included descriptions of languages, such as Language in Ethiopia (Bender
Lionel Bender (linguist)
Marvin Lionel Bender was an American author and co-author of several books, publications and essays regarding African languages, particularly from Ethiopia and Sudan. He retired from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He did extensive work in all four language families of Ethiopia: Semitic,...
, Bowen, Cooper, and Ferguson
Charles A. Ferguson
Charles Albert Ferguson was a U.S. linguist who taught at Stanford University. He was one the founders of sociolinguistics and is best known for his work on diglossia. The TOEFL test was created under his leadership at the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, DC...
1976). The single agency conducting the most language surveys around the world is SIL International
SIL International
SIL International is a U.S.-based, worldwide, Christian non-profit organization, whose main purpose is to study, develop and document languages, especially those that are lesser-known, in order to expand linguistic knowledge, promote literacy, translate the Christian Bible into local languages,...
(Summer Institute of Linguistics). The results of many of their surveys are posted on the web: http://www.sil.org/silesr.
Surveys have usually been conducted among spoken languages. However, in recent years, surveys have also been done among users of sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
s (Bickford 1991, Woodward 1991, 1993, 1996, Parkhurst & Parkhurst 1998).