The following excerpts are from the Endangered Language and Cultures blog:

Looking through the articles listed on the Languages in the News page on RNLD’s website (www.rnld.org/news) we focused on how Indigenous languages are represented, and what kind of themes, languages, and locations gain media attention. This will be useful in planning how we can better use the media in the future. Here is an overview of the Languages in the News 2011.

So far this year the Languages in the News page on RNLD’s website has listed 567 online articles about endangered languages and related topics. Sources range from the New York Times to the Pilbara Echo, from the Vancouver Sun to the Taipei Times, with languages from all over the globe represented.

Almost 20% of those articles concern Australia’s Indigenous languages: 47 articles were written about Indigenous languages in general, and 60 about individual languages. Warlpiri (5), Noongar (5) and Yanyuwa (4) were the most frequently discussed, followed by Luritja, Gumbaynggir, and Warungu with three articles each. Another 27 languages were represented including Kaurna, Wirangu, Manjiljarra and Bilinarra.

North American Indigenous languages were the most represented in this survey with 40 general articles, and 123 about individual languages or a selection of languages. Cherokee (12), Ojibwe (9), and Wampanoag (8) were mentioned most frequently, followed closely by Cree (7), Lakota (6), Navajo (5) and Inupiaq (5). 60 other languages were also represented.

Perhaps surprisingly, Nigerian indigenous languages were discussed in 18 articles, primarily regarding the vulnerability of these languages and the way this is perceived as relating to Nigeria’s development as a country, and the success of the Festival of Indigenous African language Films (FIAF) that was held in October. This figure may demonstrate effective links between language advocates and the Nigerian media. Read more.

See: Endangered Language and Cultures