Language revitalization or dying gasp? Language preservation efforts among the Bisu of Northern Thailand KIRK R. PERSON Abstract Bisu, as spoken in Northern Thailand, boasts fewer than one thousand speakers. The low number of speakers plus constant pressure from the outside world definitely qualifies Bisu as an endangered language. The Bisu themselves recognize this fact and their leadership has requested outside help in preserving their language and culture. This article endeav- ors to describe the sociolinguistic situation in which the Bisu of Northern Thailand find themselves, chronicle e¤orts to preserve this endangered language through community involvement in the development of an or- thography and basic reading materials, and assess the current progress of the project. Additional challenges that may be encountered in the course of preserving the Bisu language for future generations will also be discussed. 1. Introduction The plight of endangered languages has received increased attention in the professional and popular press. What is clear is that a great number of the world’s smaller languages may disappear within a generation or two (Crystal 2000). Less clear is what may be done to preserve these lan- guages, both in terms of collecting and archiving data for professional use, and in fostering linguistic appreciation and maintenance among the language communities themselves. This article has two aims: to describe the sociolinguistic situation in which the Bisu of Northern Thailand find themselves, and to chronicle e¤orts to preserve this endangered language through community in- volvement in the development of an orthography and basic reading materials. 0165–2516/05/0173–0117 Int’l. J. Soc. Lang. 173 (2005), pp. 117–141 6 Walter de Gruyter Brought to you by | Gial Library Authenticated Download Date | 10/11/16 8:43 PM