El ritual en el mantenimiento de lenguas indígenas

Abstract

In many situations the symbolic use of a given language only provides a sense of complacency among its speakers; but it does not contribute to language maintenance. The maintenance of a minority language cannot be based on a highly ritualized use. This is rather important because language vitality depends on creative use; i.e. new information has to be included. Here we will present a proposal to determine the ritual and every day use of a language. There may be different tendencies in the continuum from ritual language to everyday language which may vary on different levels. To prevent language shift the minority group needs to maintain some vitality in the use of its language. Of course; language vitality requires some degree of rituality but it requires above all the possibility of the minority group to adapt to new situations.