I believe that the intended audience of this article included linguists, sociologists, and anthropologists. However, the article is written in such a way as to include the general public as well. The author seems to want to make everyone aware of the dangers of losing native languages around the world.
2. What was the authors intended purpose in writing the piece
The authors intended purpose was to make people aware that the world is losing its culture and it languages at an astounding rate of up to one language every two weeks. This is depressing, because just like the loss of animals and plants, the loss of language hurts not just the native speakers, but the culture of those people.
3. What point does the author make in the text
The main point the author makes is the loss of the languages by small groups that are being integrated into larger groups. This is occurring on every continent and in every nation. The other point is that many people are trying to resurrect endangered languages before it is too late.
4. What support or evidence does the author use to support the point
The evidence the author uses includes the loss of the Tlingit language in Alaska, the Maori language, many of the native Brazilian language, and native Australian aborigines languages that are either endanger of dying, dead, or slowly making a comeback.
5. .Is there sufficient evidence Why or why not
There is definitely sufficient evidence. The facts show that of the 6500 languages that are still spoken today, over half of them are endangered. That means that we will lose two a month unless something is done to start saving these languages. It also shows that we have lost many languages if there are only about 6500 languages left. It is imperative to resurrect and help the endangered languages.
6. Is the evidence logical Why or why not
The evidence is logical in that the author uses facts and statistics to show his conclusions in relation to the loss of language. One example used was the Nenets tribe of reindeer herders. They are not only losing their language but are in jeopardy of losing their ancestral lands. This is not just a loss of language but of a culture. Even if they are able to retain their lands, the gas companies in the surrounding areas will tempt the younger generations to become more modern and join the rest of the world, losing not only their mother language but their culture.
7. What is the authors tone in the article
The authors tone is one of moral responsibility. It is not flaky or flighty. It tells the facts and the possible ramifications of those facts. However, the tone also gives hope in the sense of the many organizations trying to keep the native languages in their country alive.
8. What techniques did the author use to keep your interest or why didnt the writing keep your interest
The author kept my interest because he did not just lay out the facts. He gave a background to the examples and the possible outcomes that could occur. It was not just about numbers, but about the human and cultural element too.
9. Examine the introduction and the conclusion. How effectively did these paragraphs work
I believe that both paragraphs are extremely effective. The introduction sets the stage for the feeling of loss with the loss of languages. The conclusion wraps it all up and gives the reader hope that there is a chance to reverse some of the damage and save some of the languages and cultures.
10. Examine the organization of the writing. How well-organized were the paragraphs and the ideas in the text
The organization is wonderful. Each section tells the tale of data and culture and humanity. The author uses several examples and uses them one at a time to build the case. The first section sets the topic of the loss of language. Each proceeding section tells about the problems and possible outcomes, both good and bad. The conclusion gives a sense of hope and ends on a good note.
11. Make any other comments about the writing you may have.
I felt much moved by this article in that I did not realize how much the world is affected by the major nations. It surprised me also that there are so many languages and that many of them will be gone in the next century.
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