Sentinelese language
| Sentinel | |
|---|---|
| Native to | India |
| Region | North Sentinel Island |
Native speakers | approx. 250 (median estimate) |
Unknown, possibly Ongan
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | mis |
| ISO 639-3 | std |
| ELP | Sentinel |
The Sentinelese language (Sentinel in ISO 639-3) is the unknown language of the Sentinelese people of North Sentinel Island in the Andaman Islands, India. It is presumably a distinct Andamanese language, but how closely it may be related to other languages of those families is unknown.[1][2] Based on what little is known about similarities in culture and technology and their geographical proximity, it is supposed that their history and language are related to the Ongan languages rather than Great Andamanese.[3] On the two documented occasions when Onge and Aka-Bea[dubious – discuss] individuals were taken to North Sentinel Island in order to attempt communication, they were unable to recognise any of the language spoken by the inhabitants, though the exchanges were admittedly brief and hostile.
Since interactions with the Sentinelese have been extremely rare, brief, and generally avoided by the Sentinelese themselves, there have been no material, language samples or even word lists published on their language; hence, there can be no classification.[1]
Since nobody outside the community can speak Sentinelese,[2] and all trespassers on the island have been killed, the authorities cannot communicate with the islanders.[4][5]
Sentinelese is considered endangered.[6][7] Perhaps about 250 people speak the language.[2]
Bernhard Glaeser wrote in 1995 that scientists hoped soon to learn Sentinelese.[8]
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b "The most isolated tribe in the world?" found at Survival International website. Accessed October 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c John Clough, "Sentinelese: The remotest people in the world", Moses Missions, December 28, 2008, found at Moses Missions website. Accessed October 7, 2009.
- ^ Ethnologue report for Sentinel. Accessed October 7, 2009.
- ^ Vishvajit Pandya, "In the Forest: Visual and Material Worlds of Andamanese History (1858-2006)," p. 361, (University Press of America, 2008) ISBN 0761841539, ISBN 9780761841531, found at Google Books. Accessed October 7, 2009.
- ^ Dan McDougall, "Survival comes first for the last Stone Age tribe world: Two poachers lie in shallow graves beside the Indian Ocean after they trespassed on an endangered tribe's island. Now even relatives of the victims' want the killers left alone." The Observer, 12 February 2006. Found at Article from The Guardian. Accessed October 7, 2009.
- ^ Matthias Brenzinger, "Language diversity endangered," p. 40, (Walter de Gruyter, 2007) ISBN 3110170493, ISBN 9783110170498, found at Google Books. Accessed October 7, 2009.
- ^ Christopher Moseley, "Encyclopedia of the world's endangered languages," p. 289, 342 (Routledge, 2007) ISBN 9780700711970, found at [1]. Accessed October 7, 2009.
- ^ Bernhard Glaeser, "Environment, development, agriculture: integrated policy through human ecology," p. 123, (M.E. Sharpe, 1995) ISBN 9781563246937 found at Google Books. Accessed October 7, 2009.