What Language Death and Language Planning Tell Us About MARC and RDA

Abstract

The environmental and cultural factors that typically accompany language death are examined to determine if those traits are exhibited in the alleged death of MARC. In addition to measuring language prestige, usage, and change, we must also examine politics and identity. Politics impact languages as every nation creates and lives by a language policy. The role that language planning plays in creating, exacerbating, or minimizing MARC's death is examined. Through a basic review of the language death process, we identify where in the death process MARC is and what role language planning could and should play in future decision making.

KEYWORDS:

• cataloger status
• language death
• language planning
• MARC
• RDA