Ebook: Ishkashimi: A Father’s Language. How a Very Small Language Survives

SIL International, 2010. — 22 p.This paper presents the results of sociolinguistic research conducted in August 2003 and August 2004 among the Ishkashimi people living in the southwestern part of Badakhshan in Tajikistan. The primary goals of the research were to document and suggest reasons for the observed ethnolinguistic vitality of the language in spite of the fact that the number of speakers is small. Of particular interest is the status of the language as a father’s language, and the responsibility fathers take in ensuring it is passed on to wives and children. Data were gathered through a set of questionnaires dealing with social networks and language use, language functions and attitudes, and ethnic identity.Abstract
Introduction
Methodology
Social Networks and Language Use
Language Functions and Language Attitudes
Ethnic Identity
Locations and Sampling
Results
Locations
Marriage Patterns
Language Use in Social Networks in Ryn
Language Use with Family and Relatives
Language Use with Neighbours
Language Use with Friends and Colleagues
Language Use in Social Networks in Sumjin
Language Use with Family and Relatives
Language Use with Neighbours, Friends and Co-Workers
Language Use in Functional Domains
Children’s Language
Language Attitudes in a Multilingual Environment
Ethnic Identity
Discussion
Sum
References