Vanishing Echoes

Authors

  • Victoria Vorreiter Independent Filmmaker / Researcher, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/jucr.2010.10

Keywords:

Endangered Languages, Oral Tradition, Traditional Music, Multiculturalism, Southeast Asia

Abstract

Experts agree that with the rush to globalization, half of the world’s 6,900 languages will disappear within the next fifty years, and with them will vanish the ideas, history, culture, stories, and songs that these languages embody. This loss is felt not only by the community that has practiced ancestral traditions throughout the millennia, but also by mankind, for cultural diversity provides a source of exchange, innovation and creativity that is vital to the survival of humankind.

For the ancient civilizations of mainland Southeast Asia rooted in oral tradition, music is a primary portal to understanding the world. As these smaller communities become assimilated into the dominant political and economic powers in this new age, may action be taken to preserve their arts, songs and ceremonies in recognition of the multiplicity that once was ours.

Journal of Urban Culture Research - Cover image of Bangkok, Thailand provided by Alan Kinear

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How to Cite

Vorreiter, Victoria. 2014. “Vanishing Echoes”. Journal of Urban Culture Research 1 (-):160-67. https://doi.org/10.14456/jucr.2010.10.

Issue

Vol. 1 (2010)

Section

Art and Survival - Our Endangered Cultures

License

Authors authorize the JUCR to publish their materials both in print and online while retaining their full individual copyright. The copyright of JUCR volumes is retained by Chulalongkorn University. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the Journal (JUCR), it editors and staff, Chulalongkorn University, or Osaka Metropolitan University.