The GAMAE Garifuna Language in Danger Revival and Retrieval Program (GGSDRRP) is The GAMAE Garifuna Language and Culture Educational Institute (GLCEI) attempt to halt or reverse the decline of our Garifuna language and to make and attempt to revive it before it becomes extinct. Those involved will be Garifuna children, youth and young adults as well as Garifuna linguists, Garifuna teachers, Garifuna speakers, cultural and community groups, and the governments.
Some argue for a distinction between language revival (the resurrection of a dead language with no existing native speakers) and language revitalization (the rescue of a “dying” language).
It has been pointed out that there has not been a successful instance of a complete Garifuna language revival program, therefore The GAMAE Garifuna Language and Culture Educational Institute (GLCEI) will be the first to create a new generation of native Garifuna language speakers with existing Garifuna language native speakers as models.
The Garifuna Language is targeted for language revitalization because its use and prominence are severely endangered and facing extinction.
The GAMAE Garifuna Language and Culture Educational Institute (GLCEI) various tactics for The GAMAE Garifuna Language in Danger Revival and Retrieval Program (GGSDRRP) will be used to try to revive and save the endangered Garifuna language from extinction. Though the goals of the GGSDRRP will vary greatly the Program will typically involve attempt to expand the number of Garifuna language speakers and use of the Garifuna language, and we will try to maintain the current level of use to protect the Garifuna language from extinction and from language death.
The reasons for The GAMAE Garifuna Language in Danger Revival and Retrieval Program (GGSDRRP) is simple. In the recent times alone, it has been observed that the Garifuna language has been declared as endangered and facing extinction. UNESCO estimates that more than half of the Garifuna language speakers today are fewer than 10,000 speakers and that a quarter have fewer than 1,000 speakers and that, unless there are some efforts to maintain our Garifuna language, over the next hundred years more than likely it will become extinct.
