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| New York Today: Our Disappearing Languages | New York Today: Our Disappearing Languages |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Updated, 7:48 a.m. | |
| Aloha kakahiaka ma kēia Poʻalua nei! | Aloha kakahiaka ma kēia Poʻalua nei! |
| That means “Good morning on this Tuesday” in Hawaiian. | That means “Good morning on this Tuesday” in Hawaiian. |
| But you’ve probably never heard that, or any Hawaiian, at your corner bodega or on the subway platform. | But you’ve probably never heard that, or any Hawaiian, at your corner bodega or on the subway platform. |
| Though New York City is one of the most linguistically diverse spots on Earth, Hawaiian — along with roughly half of the world’s six or seven thousand languages — has been in danger of going extinct. | Though New York City is one of the most linguistically diverse spots on Earth, Hawaiian — along with roughly half of the world’s six or seven thousand languages — has been in danger of going extinct. |
| According to research from the Endangered Language Alliance, a local nonprofit that identifies, documents and teaches dying languages, many of the 600 to 800 languages spoken in New York are endangered. | According to research from the Endangered Language Alliance, a local nonprofit that identifies, documents and teaches dying languages, many of the 600 to 800 languages spoken in New York are endangered. |
| (Not a surprise: Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean and Haitian Creole are the Big Five in the five boroughs, after English.) | (Not a surprise: Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean and Haitian Creole are the Big Five in the five boroughs, after English.) |
| The dwindling is less about numbers than it is about “intergenerational transmission”: Endangerment happens when children are no longer learning the language. | The dwindling is less about numbers than it is about “intergenerational transmission”: Endangerment happens when children are no longer learning the language. |
| “It’s an ongoing process that’s akin to the loss of diversity of plant and animal species,” said the alliance’s assistant director, Ross Perlin. | “It’s an ongoing process that’s akin to the loss of diversity of plant and animal species,” said the alliance’s assistant director, Ross Perlin. |
| Take Gottscheerisch, for example: It’s a variety of the Germanic language from what is now Slovenia. | Take Gottscheerisch, for example: It’s a variety of the Germanic language from what is now Slovenia. |
| Some of the last speakers in the world live in Ridgewood, Queens, Mr. Perlin said. | Some of the last speakers in the world live in Ridgewood, Queens, Mr. Perlin said. |
| Or Judeo-Kashani, spoken by the Jewish peoples of the city of Kashan in Iran, which lives on here among just a few individuals around Great Neck and Roslyn on Long Island. | Or Judeo-Kashani, spoken by the Jewish peoples of the city of Kashan in Iran, which lives on here among just a few individuals around Great Neck and Roslyn on Long Island. |
| Himalayan languages are also hanging on by a thread in Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, Queens, and Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. | Himalayan languages are also hanging on by a thread in Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, Queens, and Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. |
| And the Arawakan Garifuna language in the Bronx and Circassian languages in pockets of New Jersey. | And the Arawakan Garifuna language in the Bronx and Circassian languages in pockets of New Jersey. |
| In many cases, a culture dies with its words. | In many cases, a culture dies with its words. |
| “Language is the bellwether,” Mr. Perlin said. “It’s hard to maintain the full richness, depth and complexity of a culture without its languages.” | “Language is the bellwether,” Mr. Perlin said. “It’s hard to maintain the full richness, depth and complexity of a culture without its languages.” |
| You can learn more about vanishing mother tongues this evening at the New York Public Library. 6:30 p.m. [Free, register here] | You can learn more about vanishing mother tongues this evening at the New York Public Library. 6:30 p.m. [Free, register here] |
| Here’s what else is happening: | Here’s what else is happening: |
| Things are heating up. | Things are heating up. |
| Today will be mostly sunny with a high near 86. | Today will be mostly sunny with a high near 86. |
| And here’s a second day of summer surprise: thunderstorms. There’s a chance scattered showers will mar your morning (and evening) commute. | And here’s a second day of summer surprise: thunderstorms. There’s a chance scattered showers will mar your morning (and evening) commute. |
| • A state court halted the mayor’s plan to give certain homeowners a $183 credit on their water and sewer bill. [New York Times] | • A state court halted the mayor’s plan to give certain homeowners a $183 credit on their water and sewer bill. [New York Times] |
| • Reports of sex crimes in the subway surged 57 percent this year, as more women go to the police. [DNAInfo] | • Reports of sex crimes in the subway surged 57 percent this year, as more women go to the police. [DNAInfo] |
| • A woman charged in the death of her fiancé while kayaking took his paddle while he was in the water, according to testimony by a police officer. [New York Times] | • A woman charged in the death of her fiancé while kayaking took his paddle while he was in the water, according to testimony by a police officer. [New York Times] |
| • Some Brooklyn Heights residents complain that the crowds at the park’s basketball courts are damaging the neighborhood, but players believe they are victims of racial stereotyping. [New York Times] | • Some Brooklyn Heights residents complain that the crowds at the park’s basketball courts are damaging the neighborhood, but players believe they are victims of racial stereotyping. [New York Times] |
| • Hispanic voters were disproportionately purged from voter roles before April’s presidential primary, according to an analysis by WNYC. [WNYC] | • Hispanic voters were disproportionately purged from voter roles before April’s presidential primary, according to an analysis by WNYC. [WNYC] |
| • West Nile virus was found in mosquitoes on Staten Island. [Staten Island Advance] | • West Nile virus was found in mosquitoes on Staten Island. [Staten Island Advance] |
| • The Police Department’s chief chaplain was randomly attacked on the Upper West Side on Sunday. [New York Post] | • The Police Department’s chief chaplain was randomly attacked on the Upper West Side on Sunday. [New York Post] |
| • The seven candidates running to replace Representative Charles B. Rangel debated last night in the Bronx. [WNYC] | • The seven candidates running to replace Representative Charles B. Rangel debated last night in the Bronx. [WNYC] |
| • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Join the Museum, Get a Title” | • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Join the Museum, Get a Title” |
| • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing. | • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing. |
| • Winter is (not) coming just yet, but you can join a “Game of Thrones” book club at the Reading Room at Bryant Park in Manhattan. 12:30 p.m. [Free] | • Winter is (not) coming just yet, but you can join a “Game of Thrones” book club at the Reading Room at Bryant Park in Manhattan. 12:30 p.m. [Free] |
| • The Happy Together Tour, with performances by the Turtles, a former member of Three Dog Night and others, at St. George Theater on Staten Island. 7:30 p.m. [Tickets start at $49] | • The Happy Together Tour, with performances by the Turtles, a former member of Three Dog Night and others, at St. George Theater on Staten Island. 7:30 p.m. [Tickets start at $49] |
| • Watch a performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at East Fourth Street Community Garden in Brooklyn. 7:30 p.m. [Free] | • Watch a performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at East Fourth Street Community Garden in Brooklyn. 7:30 p.m. [Free] |
| • A screening of “Breaking a Monster,” a documentary about Brooklyn teenagers whose internet fame led them to a major record deal, followed by a performance from their band, at Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. 7:30 p.m. [$15] | • A screening of “Breaking a Monster,” a documentary about Brooklyn teenagers whose internet fame led them to a major record deal, followed by a performance from their band, at Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. 7:30 p.m. [$15] |
| • The New York Philharmonic performs classical music — followed by fireworks! — at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. 8 p.m. [Free] | • The New York Philharmonic performs classical music — followed by fireworks! — at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. 8 p.m. [Free] |
| • Yankees host Rockies, 7:05 p.m. (WPIX). Mets host Royals, 7:10 p.m. (SNY). | • Yankees host Rockies, 7:05 p.m. (WPIX). Mets host Royals, 7:10 p.m. (SNY). |
| • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. | • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. |
| F and G trains are running with delays. | F and G trains are running with delays. |
| • Subway and PATH | • Subway and PATH |
| • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak | • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak |
| • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. | • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. |
| • Alternate-side parking: in effect until July 4. | • Alternate-side parking: in effect until July 4. |
| • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry | • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry |
| • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark | • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark |
| “Summer’s here, and the time is right for dancing in the streets.” | “Summer’s here, and the time is right for dancing in the streets.” |
| There’ll be music everywhere, today — as Make Music New York celebrates the start of summer with free concerts in public spaces across the boroughs. | There’ll be music everywhere, today — as Make Music New York celebrates the start of summer with free concerts in public spaces across the boroughs. |
| The festivity, now in its 10th year, was inspired by “Fête de la Musique” in France, a national celebration that ushers in the solstice with music. | The festivity, now in its 10th year, was inspired by “Fête de la Musique” in France, a national celebration that ushers in the solstice with music. |
| The day now includes more than 1,000 activities and performances. | The day now includes more than 1,000 activities and performances. |
| A few that might make your heart sing: | A few that might make your heart sing: |
| A concert on four grand pianos in the middle of a street, a spectacle with songs all about New York, and a series where musicians improvise with native city birds. | A concert on four grand pianos in the middle of a street, a spectacle with songs all about New York, and a series where musicians improvise with native city birds. |
| More information about events around the city can be found here. | More information about events around the city can be found here. |
| Happy listening. | Happy listening. |
| New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. | New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. |
| For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. | For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. |
| What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. | What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. |
| Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. | Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. |
| You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. | You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. |