This book deals with the past, present, and possible future of minority languages. It begins with a number of relevant concepts in macro-sociolinguistics as a background for analyzing the problems associated with minority languages. The fundamental question posed throughout is whether these minority languages will continue to exist, caught as they are in the strong currents of national and international development. A history of the society and language is given for each area. Comparisons are made in quantitative terms, in addition to interpretations based on the spontaneous remarks of...