Internet and the survival of the Estonian language at home and abroad Estonian Life
Laas Leivat
The Estonian language is an intrinsic part of what Estonians are. Its longevity has been protected by a natural survival instinct helping Estonian withstand the withering pressures of foreign regimes. With this backdrop, the Estonian Institute sponsored the second annual Worldwide Estonian Language Week in September, offering a multi-faceted program of activities both for Estonian speakers and others, at home and abroad.
While it’s difficult to gauge the success of this year’s Language Week – practically all public activities were enjoined virtually – the Week will sure evolve into an institution and find its place on the annual calendar of major events for Estonians world wide.
Many readers probably find it strange that the following commentary is in English, after all it’s about the Estonian language. But, reality check. It fits the language landscape for the individuals abroad who claim to be of Estonian heritage.
In 2009 I wrote that of the 6000 to 7000 languages currently in use worldwide, only some 200 will be left by the year 3000. Some 80% of the world’s languages will be doomed.
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Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
Extra30 Nov 2020 08:25
https://estonianworld.com/life...Quote from article about the Estonian language: “... a language so impenetrable it was apparently used in WW2 to communicate among allied spies (the axis powers being convinced it was code. Or perhaps elvish). But here I am. ...”
Extra29 Nov 2020 17:27
https://avantpage.com/blog/lan...“... During World War II, the Navajo language entered the national and international spotlight. Navajo code talkers were employed by the United States government to encode, transmit and decode messages. This language was ideal for use as a code that the enemy just couldn’t crack. It was ideal for a number of reasons:
It is only spoken by Native Americans.
It features complex syntax and dialects.
It is unintelligible to anyone without extensive exposure to it.
At the time of WWII, there was no written version. ...”
The Enigma, Navaho & Estonian29 Nov 2020 15:24
The Enigma code was broken with a rudimentary precursor to the computer. Today, breaking that would be simplicity itself.
Navaho indians in the US Army spoke in their native language in the South Pacific. Their 'code' was never broken because of its inherent complexity.
In comparison, Estonian is simple.
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