A Case for Greater Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Language and Music Revitalization

Abstract

Efforts to revitalize languages are situated within the wider context of efforts to maintain and revitalize intangible expressions of culture more broadly, from music to dance to ritual and ceremonial traditions. In some ways, language revitalization efforts are considerably further advanced in both theory and practice than those relating to other cultural expressions. Taking music as a example, this chapter draws together the scholarly field of language revitalization with the growing investigations into music sustainability, making the case for close collaboration between sociolinguists and applied ethnomusicologists on these issues. It argues three main reasons: first, that collaboration will help consolidate a common language to describe and discuss the issues; second, that it will advance theoretical frameworks and tools to support our combined efforts; and third, it will strengthen advocacy around the need for revitalisation efforts, in the community, scholarly, and public spheres.