Langauge Revitalization: An Overview, L. Hinton

Step 1: Which resources are available on the language? What are the attitudes of speakers and non-speakers toward language revitalization? What are realistic goals for language revitalization in this community?

Step 2: If the language has no speakers: Use available materials to reconstruct the language and develop language pedagogy.

Step 3. If the language has only elderly speakers: Document the language of the elderly speakers. (This may also take place at the same time as other steps.)

Step 4: Develop a second-language learning program for adults. These professional-age and parent-age adult second-language learners will be important leaders in later steps.

Step 5. Redevelop or enhance cultural practices that support and encourage use of the endangered language at home and in public by first-and second-language speakers.

Step 6. Develop intensive second-langage programs for children, preferaby with a component in the schools. When possible, use the endangered langauge as the langauge of instruction.

Step 7. Use the language at home as the primary language of communication, so that it becomes the first language of young children. Develop classes and support groups for parents to assist them in the transition.

Step 8. Expand the use of the indigenous language into broader local domains, including community government, media, local commerce, and so on.

Step 9. Where possible, expand the language domains outside of the local community and into the broader population to promote the language as one of the wider communication, regional or national government, and so on.