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How little is too little?

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 2:42 pm
by anwang
I currently speak a Pilipino language called Hiligaynon (Ilongoo). It is part of a group of languages in the Philippines called Visayan, named after the Visayan islands where these languages are spoken. I am concidering writing an instructional languages text for people interested in learning these languages. (There is practicly nothing out there if one did want to learn these languages). I just don't know if anyone would choose to learn a languages that is spoken by so few people. How little is too little for writing such a work?

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 8:20 pm
by Huia Iesou
I would learn it!

Try writing just basic grammar, spelling, et cetera, and don't get to complex, if you're worried about length. Just cover all the basics.

Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:05 pm
by anders
University departments of linguistics teaching for example language universals would love it, because there is no chance that the students will find material to plagiarize on the Internet.

And there's also at least one language nut who would say, I just need it, because it fills a void in my library.

I have just a smallish Tagalog tourist phrasebook, and nothing on Cebuano or Ilokano etc. Compare this deficiency to my running metres of Indo-Iranian language books, including something as rare as the Jaunsari Dictionary and Texts.