Community-Based Archives, Museums and Language Revitalization: A Case Study From The Wichita And Affiliated Tribes In Anadarko, Oklahoma

Abstract

The last fluent speaker of the Wichita language passed away in 2016. According to many common language vitality scales in linguistics, the Wichita language would be considered extinct. However, the discourse about this has been changing in the past decade or two. Languages like Wampanoag and Myaamia have been revitalized even though they no longer had living fluent speakers. It is even argued that these languages were not really extinct because there was significant documentation of the languages and a community of people whose ancestors spoke it. The Wichita language is in a similar situation. It may not be extinct because they have semi-speakers and language documentation in a new community archive. They also have several positive language ideologies that are conducive to revitalization. These were discovered when about 50 participants took surveys and the results are expounded on hereafter. The Wichita have already created community-based cultural programs such as their archive and a new museum, which could also be used as tools in language revitalization. With documentation, productive language ideologies, and community-based efforts, the tribe may still be able to revitalize their language.