Preserving endangered languages: Barry Mosses at TEDxCCS

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[renasc]

I cannot imagine his pain. May his prayer ring true for the future of his people.

[omarmouffok]

Thank you, Barry Moses, for starting your speech with a few words of your wonderful Spokane/Salish language. In the past, I only knew that Spokane was the name of an American city. Now, you've introduced me to this wonderful language with a few words of it. Thank you very much!

[futurecaredesign]

I started to feel the tears when you talked about being seated behind your elders, but I really started to cry when you talked about your uncle. This must be among the hardest things anyone could ever go through....

[DoctorWhoLuver]

Spokane Salish is my Native language that I have never been able to learn because I don’t live on the reservation. I am teaching myself my language in efforts to save it..

[finapatel]

my heart was so touched by this video that I was left speechless

[kugul]

Loved the TED talk. I find cultural assimilation so disappointing, because it doesn't let you connect with part of you. My Grandma's native language is Cantonese, which was never taught to my Dad because of the fear of discrimination. My Grandpa's native language is a dialect of Hessian, which was also never taught to my mother. I am currently starting to learn Cantonese, so I can learn more about the culture and am planning to record my Grandfather's Hessian dialect, so it's preserved for the future. I'd encourage anyone else in the same situation to do the same thing.

[liannegordon]

I was studying this video for english and got emotional😂🤧

[Charles-sgzu]

I’m a second generation Cantonese native speaker. I can’t really find the exact accent that my grandparents (from my mom’s side) speak on the internet. Keep it up in protecting language 💪

[parthaproteem]

Diversity of languages is a must if we want this world to look lucky in India we have special rules for tribals in NE but in mainland part I wish same could be done for other tribes

[Albanach-jenk]

The getting rid of language
Is not just in colinised countries,
I am in my seventies learning my language.
Scots Gaelic

[ninjaweretiger]

I'd love to learn it. I am also willing to teach others once I learn.

[elliottgyll]

I'm interested in working to revitalize endangered languages, does anybody have any suggestions for opportunities to pursue?

[buskerTamsui]

Seems (the most) all the colonized land's NATIVE languages are disappearing slowly when those governments became the formal government. I feel the same as Barry Mosses because my native language now in danger. I am AMIS in Taiwan.

[firyalazeera]

I just almost cried. We all should work on it. It's a alert. At least please use your native language to communicate with your children. That's a request. Please guys. Language matters a lot.

[czas]

I'm surfing through YouTube looking for tips on how to learn my native language (endangered Nigerian language). It's poorly documented on paper and on the internet so immersion might be the only way to learn, recently I just found out that there's a Bible in the language. It'll be very hard but I want to learn the language through phone calls and reading the Bible as I can't stay in the village for a long time even if I wanted.

[jwsparkilzz]

Your story parallels strongly with the Deaf community and American Sign Language. The Deaf community is terrified that eventually ASL will become extinct due to the oppression of Hearing people and the need to "fix" Deaf people or forcing them to "assimilate" with the Hearing world. Its very sad.

[cosmicdance]

The speaker should look at his name which itself is western and does not signify his culture. How can he expect to protect his culture if he does not preserve their native name and religion.

[balargus]

Spokane will not be spokane for long lol.