1 Safeguarding and transmitting endangered languages in the context of diaspora: the case of the Macanese Língu Maquista Mariana Pereira (mariana_pereira@msn.com) Paper done in the context of the Master’s Programme World Heritage Studies BTU – Cottbus 2012 Abstract The aim of this paper is to present the results of a pilot study focused on the language of the Portuguese-descendent minority of Macau in the context of diaspora. Despite the existence of Houses of Macau, in cities where Macanese live, and the organization of the Macanese Meetings of the diaspora community, the physical dispersion has challenged the dissemination of the Língu Maquista, which is inscribed in UNESCO’s Atlas of Endangered Languages. By conducting an online survey and analyzing the newsletters of the House of Macau in Portugal, it was possible to collect opinions from Macanese regarding the situation of the language. The results show that the majority supports its safeguarding, even though only a minority speaks it. Due to the urgent need to involve younger people and to create better dissemination mechanisms, it is suggested that, among other possibilities, the use of modern technologies, by organizing online classes/meetings, might bring together speakers and those eager to learn. Key-words: endangered language, Macanese, diaspora I – Introduction “… why do we have to care? Because each language is a uniquely structured world of thought, with its own associations, metaphors, ways of thinking, vocabulary, sound system and grammar – all working together in a marvellous architectural structure, which is so fragile that it could easily be lost forever.” ( Christopher Moseley In Kuntz, 2009: 4) The “present-day language revival movements”, as Christopher Moseley calls them (Kuntz, 2009: 4), have accompanied the growing awareness of our linguistic diversity. Yet, if reviving and ensuring the transmission of not-so-spoken languages is an enormous project that requires the will, cooperation and direct action of the speakers, the challenges are even greater when considering migration contexts. As the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated, the number of international migrants has been increasing over the last ten years (IOM, 2010) and around a billion people in the world live outside their place of origin (IOM, 2011: 49). Therefore, it is important to understand what happens to languages whose speakers are spread across the world. If these languages stop being used, should they be safeguarded and can a new role be given to them? In this paper, we will reflect on these issues by