Indrek Park

Indrek Park is an Estonian linguist who studies Native American languages. He works in the Department of Linguistics at Indiana University's College of Arts and Sciences. He has developed minority Native American languages, authored language textbooks, lectured on small languages, and created a written language for at least one of them.

Literacy and Endangered Languages

The benefits of literacy in indigenous and endangered languages are not always immediate or straightforward, and in some cases, the effects can be controversial. While literacy can support the documentation and long-term preservation of linguistic heritage, it may also serve as a powerful symbol of cultural pride and identity. In contexts where oral transmission has weakened or been interrupted, literacy can support revitalization and language teaching.

However, literacy is not a neutral tool. The imposition of orthographic norms, standardization of one variety over others, and external control over written forms can generate tension within language communities. Literacy is not neutral — it can revitalize or marginalize, depending on who leads, how it's implemented, and what the community wants. In some cases, literacy efforts may accelerate language shift rather than prevent it. In communities where the indigenous language remains strong, the premature introduction of literacy in a dominant language may, in fact, be detrimental.

This paper examines the varying effects of literacy — both in indigenous and dominant languages — on a selection of endangered Balto-Finnic and Native American languages. It analyzes how different literacy strategies have led to divergent outcomes, offering a comparative perspective on what has helped, what has hindered, and why.