This Language Assessment Chart is from Languages of the Land: A Resource Manual
for Aboriginal Language Activists, prepared for NWT Literacy Council in 1999. It
is a simple chart that can be used by communities to understand the strength
of their language. It can later be used to develop strategies to maintain or revive
that language. Check off the boxes that apply to Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun in your
community.
The Flourishing Language
- Has speakers of all ages, some of them monolingual.
- Population increases lead to an increase in the number of speakers.
- Is used in all areas of communication.
- The language adapts to the changing culture of the community.
- Speakers become increasingly literate.
The Enduring Language
- Has speakers of all ages; most are bilingual.
- The number of speakers remains the same in spite of population
increases.
- English tends to be used exclusively in some situations.
- The language adapts to the changing culture of the community.
- There is little or no Aboriginal language literacy in the community.
The Declining Language
- There are more older speakers than younger ones.
- Younger speakers are less fluent in the language.
- The number of speakers actually decreases over time, in spite of an
increased population.
- All speakers are bilingual and English is preferred in many situations.
- There is very limited literacy in the language.
The Obsolete Language
- The language is not taught to the children at home.
- The number of speakers is declining rapidly.
- The speakers are all bilingual and English is preferred in most
situations.
- The language no longer adapts to new situations.
The Extinct Language
- There are no living ‘mother-tongue’ speakers.