What factors contribute to language endangerment and give an example of revitalization.

• A. Hebrew revival
• B. Language endangerment can't be reversed
• C. Language policy limiting schools
• D. Global language dominance

Answer: (A)

Language endangerment happens when a community’s children stop learning a language, often because a dominant language offers more economic, social, or political advantages. Revitalization involves intentional actions to reverse that trend: teaching the language in schools, creating and publishing literature, developing a standardized writing system, and supporting use in media, government, and daily life so people regain intergenerational transmission and social value for the language.

Hebrew revival is a clear example of this process. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hebrew transformed from primarily a liturgical and scholarly language into a living, daily means of communication. This shift happened because Hebrew was adopted as the language of education, government, and public life; a modern vocabulary and standard written form were developed; and institutions, schools, newspapers, and later media and technology all used Hebrew. The result was a language that people could learn as a first language and use across domains, illustrating how revitalization can succeed with coordinated social, political, and cultural support.

The other options describe factors that can contribute to endangerment or reflect a misconception about it. For example, claiming that endangerment can’t be reversed ignores successful revitalization efforts; language policies that limit schooling and the ongoing dominance of global languages can accelerate endangerment rather than demonstrate revitalization.