Hi all! I'm working on a petition to get Duolingo to add a Catalan course for English speakers, and I thought this would be a good place to share the petition.

Right now, Duolingo only offers a Spanish-to-Catalan course, which forces people to learn Spanish first and many stop there. For those unfamiliar, Catalan is spoken by more than 10 million people worldwide, mainly in Catalonia, Spain (home to Barcelona), Andorra (where it’s the official language), and other parts of Spain, France, and Italy. Catalan is under increasing pressure due to being a minority language, especially from the dominance of Spanish in Spain. Unfortunately, foreigners can get by on Spanish in major cities like Barcelona and therefore drop learning Catalan altogether.

As long as Duolingo offers Spanish-to-Catalan, and not English-to-Catalan, people will continue to learn Spanish instead of Catalan. Not only does this contribute to the increasing threat that the Catalan language is facing, but I also think it hinders foreigners from properly integrating and engaging with Catalan culture.

Duolingo already supports languages way smaller than Catalan, like Welsh and Navajo, not to mention the fictional languages. Duolingo, with its user base of 500 million, can make a great difference to the visibility of the language, as well as make life easier for both expats and locals.

So please, if you have a minute; sign and share this petition, and let's hope Duolingo understands the need when they see our number of supporters!

Thank you so much!

Petition: https://www.change.org/english_to_catalan_for_duolingo

Paraujano (Añú) is the least spoken language in the world. This nearly extinct language is spoken by only 1 person in Venezuela. The only surviving fluent speaker is a thirty-year-old named Jofris Márquez, who learned the language from his grandmother. Revitalization efforts for this language include the teaching of Paraujano in six regional elementary schools and the creation of various cultural organizations. With the support of UNICEF, it was possible to begin to strengthen a linguistic and cultural revitalization movement in which many members of the community participate. Thanks to this movement, Juan and his mother Zaida began studying Añú. At home, Zaida teaches her son Juan the newly learned Añú vocabulary. “Everything I learn from my teachers I will teach to my children,” he explains. "This way they will not be ashamed of their ethnic identity and will be able to speak their own language." Despite his young age, Juan understands the importance of what is at stake and knows how to collaborate. “When I grow up, I want to teach children to speak Añu,” he says. It is important to study, preserve and revitalize the languages ​​in danger of extinction. As they say in Welsh:  a land without a language is a land without a soul (gwlad heb iaith, gwlad heb enaid).

We can conclude, therefore, that every language is worthy of being preserved and protected.

Some words in the Paraujano language:

• Water → wiin
• Friend → awati
• Iguana → iwaana
• Rabbit → onki
• Leaf → apana
• Honey → wapa
• Stone → jüpa
• Tree → aurula
• Mango → manka
• Coconut → kooka

Paraujano Dictionary: https://it.scribd.com/document/611670516/Diccionario-Anu-Basico-Alvarez-y-Bravo-2008-Venezuela

Article on the Paraujano language: https://www.noticiascol.com/2017/05/09/el-ultimo-hablante-anu

Article on the revitalization of the Paraujano/Añú language: https://ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/zulia/lengua-anu-se-ensenara-en-escuelas-del-zulia/

Tehuelche (Aonekko) is a critically endangered language spoken in Argentine Patagonia by the Tehuelche people. Although considered already extinct, the community of Aonekken/k (Tehuelche) proves that this is not the case. According to the site "Ser Argentino", the Tehuelche language has 4 fluent speakers, but in 2019 the woman who was known as the only native speaker of this language died in Santa Cruz. Today many members of the Tehuelche ethnic group have limited knowledge of the language and are doing their best to ensure language revival. The Tehuelche community has published the book "Wenai sh e pekk” for those who want to learn Tehuelche. Linguistic Javier Domingo worked with Mrs. Manchado during the last few years of her life, recording her speech and learning the language. In the case of the Tehuelche language, Mrs. Manchado’s recordings now provide a window into the past, but also lay a framework for the future revival of the Tehuelche language among her people. On one of the last nights that anthropologist Javier Domingo spent working with her, Mrs. Manchado said, “Aio t nash ‘a’ieshm ten kot ‘awkko” – maybe tomorrow someone will speak in Tehuelche. Some words in the Tehuelche language:

• Moon/month - Kengenkon
• One - Choché
• Tiger - Jaluel
• Fish - Kooi
• Sea - Jono
• Dog - Guachem
• Ant - Chacon
• Whale - Góos
• Heart - Sheg
• Hi everyone! - Wilum waienguesh!

Tehuelche Dictionary: https://pueblosoriginarios.com/lenguas/tehuelche.php

Tehuelche spoken dictionary: https://livingdictionaries.app/80CcDQ4DRyiYSPIWZ9Hy/entries/list

Tehuelche Dictionary: https://f.eruditor.link/file/2225025/

Tehuelche Foundation: https://kketoshmekot.wordpress.com/

Article on the Tehuelche language: https://worldcrunch.com/culture-society/recognizing-and-reviving-argentina39s-indigenous-languages

Záparo is a nearly extinct Amazonian language spoken by the Zápara people who live along the border between Ecuador and Peru. This language is spoken by only 3 people and is in grave danger of extinction. The oldest surviving Záparo speaker is a man in his eighties, Pedro Ernesto Santi. He and his family live in a riverside village. Brenda J. Bowser, assistant professor of anthropology, is working to capture the linguistic and oral history of the Záparo of Ecuadorian Amazonia. Bowser, who has focused his research in the Ecuadorian Amazon area for 20 years, led a team of anthropologists and linguists to work with the latter speakers of the Záparo language, thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. “People don’t realize how rapidly native languages are disappearing throughout the world, and how much traditional cultural knowledge is lost when that happens." Bowser said. The UNESCO declared the Záparo language as an "Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" in 2001. Efforts are being made to revitalize the language, which is taught in two Ecuadorian schools and promoted by the "Asociación de Nacionalidad Zápara" of the province of Pastaza in collaboration with UNESCO . Some words in the Zápara language:

• Armadillo → muraka
• Zaparo Language → Sapara atupama
• Fish → ishimanu
• Flower → nukawiku
• Papaya → chiripaca
• Moon → kashiikwa
• Star → naricha
• Belly → tawaka
• Stone → naruka
• Green → nɨɨka

Záparo Dictionary: https://www.academia.edu/109748598/Diccionario_z%C3%A1paro_triling%C3%BCe_s%C3%A1para_castellano_kichwa_castellano_s%C3%A1para_y_kichwa_s%C3%A1para

Article on the Zápara language: https://www.pressreader.com/ecuador/la-hora-loja/20190602/282209422343094

Grammar of the Zapara language for the basic level: https://educacion.gob.ec/wp-content/plugins/download-monitor/download.php?id=9723

Kayardild is a rare Aboriginal language spoken in Queensland, Australia. This language is spoken by only 8 people and is in grave danger of extinction. Australian linguist Nicholas Evans, a leading expert on endangered languages, became interested in the Kayardild language in the early 1980s, when he began his PhD and realized the language's vulnerability. “I think the loss of Kayardild was probably more rapid than the loss of any other language in the world,” Evans said. Nick Evans has undertaken linguistic work with members of the Kaiadilt community, recording audio files and documenting the language. And then he began writing Kayardild's grammar, in a last-ditch attempt to preserve a dying art. “I was very, very lucky because it's a very unusual language that does lots of things that no other language in the world does." said Dr. Evans. There are revival efforts for the Kayardild language. Mornington Island State School has published several children's books featuring the Kayardild, Lardil and Yangkaal languages. The state school is working with the arts center and Kaiadilt elders to help revive their language and culture for the next generation. I contacted linguist Nicholas Evans and he confirmed that he is planning a second Kayardild dictionary with community members in the next few years. Some words in the Kayardild language:

• Foot → jaara
• Butterfly → balibali
• Kayardild language → Kayardilda
• Whale → kanhithu
• Sugar → juka
• Sea → malaa
• Fish → yakuri
• Turtle → bangaa

Grammar and dictionary of the Kayardild language: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://theswissbay.ch/pdf/Books/Linguistics/Mega%2520linguistics%2520pack/Australian/Kayardild%252C%2520A%2520Grammar%2520of%2520%2528Evans%2529.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwji2MvfwKKJAxWa9bsIHW-gCNM4ChAWegQIEhAB&usg=AOvVaw2Ej8iZooJfugGUXDs1r1E7

Application to learn the Kayardild language: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.snapps.lardilandkayardild&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dapp+kayardild

Kawésqar is a language spoken by only 8 people in the world. This language is spoken in southern Chile by the Kawésqar people. This nomadic group spent much of the day canoeing through the fjords and southern channels. Kawésqar, like many other indigenous languages, is considered an "isolated" or "unclassified" language. That is, it is not part of a linguistic family nor does it have links with any other living language (such as, for example, Spanish, which derives from Latin and is part of the Romance languages). This language has "words or phrases" that cannot be translated with just one word in Spanish. In Kawésqar we have words like jerkiár-atǽl, a verb that means 'the movement that the sea makes of ebb and flow'", explains Oscar Aguilera to BBC Mundo. Chilean linguist Oscar Aguilera, 72, has been trying to save this language for almost 50 years, recording its vocabulary, recording audio files for hours and documenting the lexicon. He is the author of a grammar of the Kawesqar language, of a Kawesqar-Spanish and Spanish-Kawesqar dictionary, as well as numerous articles published in various magazines, which give an account of various interesting aspects of this language. However, the linguist believes that there is still much to be done. Being spoken by only eight people, it is among the languages ​​that UNESCO considers to be in grave danger of extinction. Four of them are elderly. Three were born in the 1960s – the last generation to acquire the language from childhood – and only one, who does not belong to the ethnic group, speaks it: Oscar Aguilera. “Behind languages ​​there is a great deal of knowledge and that is why they must be preserved, because they contain unique information about the environment in which the people who speak them live,” says Oscar. Now there is another person who is not from the community interested in learning its grammar: the Chilean president's partner, first lady Irina Karamanos. Looking to the future of the language, Oscar Aguiler's hope lies in the first lady, Irina Karamanos. Perhaps his interest, Oscar says, will actually help revitalize the language of those he considers his true family. Some words in the Kawésqar language:

• Sea lion → čekéja
• Dog → kiúrro
• House → At
• One → tákso
• Water → akčólai
• Snow → asói
• Canoe → kájef
• Moon → arkaksélas
• Whale → ápala
• Sea → čams

Original BBC article on the Kawésqar language (you can use the translator to translate the page): https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-60377613

Kawésqar Dictionary: https://f.eruditor.link/file/2315984/grant/

Kawésqar alphabet: http://www.kawesqar.uchile.cl/lengua/alfabeto.html

Learning Kawésqar https://youtu.be/7M_BQHK3kks?si=q1UI0axMTu87pmH-

The Livonian language (līvõ kēļ) It is the least spoken Finnic language in the world. This language is spoken in Latvia, and is one of the most endangered languages ​​in Europe, along with Ter Sami, Sercquiais, Votic, Ume Sami, Wymysorys and Pite Sami. The language has one native speaker, ten fluent speakers and 210 who have reported some knowledge of the language. At the dawn of the 20th century, the Livonian language faced a slow and silent descent into oblivion. Livonian had dwindled to a handful of speakers, and the language that whispered through the ancient forests and once defined a people faced the prospect of fading into obscurity. But languages, like dreams, refuse to die in silence. The 21st century has witnessed a vibrant revival movement of a language that was once on the brink of extinction. The promotion of the Livonian language as a living language was mainly promoted by the Livonian Cultural Center ( Līvõ Kultūr Sidām ) and it can be learned in higher education institutions in Latvia, Estonia and Finland. In 2020, Livonian language revival activists Jānis Mednis and Renāte Medne began teaching Livonian as a first language to their newborn daughter Kuldi Medne. As of 2023, she was the only native Livonian speaker. In October 2022, his parents published the book Kūldaläpš Zeltabērns ('Golden Child') for those who want to learn Livonian. The resurrection of the Livonian is a story of dedication, resilience and a feat as intriguing as it is inspiring. As our linguistic journey nears its conclusion, we turn our gaze to the future, a future in which Livonian, once thought to be extinct, is finding its voice again. Some words in the Livonian language:

• Hello → tēriņtš
• Thank you → tienū
• One → ikš
• Yes → nǟ
• House → kuodā
• Please → pōlaks
• Good morning → jõvā ūomõg
• How are you? → kui sinnõn lǟb?

Livonian Dictionary https://dicts.uit.no/livdicts.eng.html

books to learn livonian http://virtuallivonia.info/?page_id=44

Article about Jānis Mednis and Renāte Medne (the activists for the revival of the Livonian language): https://kuramo.lv/cilveks/sarunas/klaja-nakusi-unikala-libiesu-valodas-macibu-gramata/

Even though we have grammar for Dahalik, the Wikipedia page does not list any grammatical features other than SOV and the subordinating marker. If you are skilled at editing Wikipedia pages, please edit! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahalik_language

I'm a student of philosophy at a university in British Columbia, Canada (in the area where Halq'eméylem is traditionally spoken). I've been studying Halq'eméylem for around a year now, and have produced a small translation of an aphorism from Friedrich Nietzsche's 'The Gay Science'. It is as follows:

xwe'ít ta' shxwelí? -- éy kw'as xwe'stélémétlha teléwe.

Eng: "What does your conscience say? -- You should become who you are."

This more or less of interest to me alone, however, I thought it might be a fun way to see how the language adapts concepts to itself.

The Kanakanabu language is the least spoken Austronesian language in the world. This rare language is spoken on the island of Taiwan. There are currently only 4 speakers of Kanakanavu. The Taiwan Indigenous Language Research and Development Foundation is making efforts to revitalize the Kanakanavu language. Some words in the Kanakanabu language:

• House → tanasa
• Moon → vuanʉ
• Sun → taniarʉ
• Star → tamtasai
• Water → canumu
• Leaf → ranʉngʉ
• Sea → 'umi

Site to learn Kanakanabu https://web.klokah.tw/

Kanakanabu Dictionary https://e-dictionary.ilrdf.org.tw/xnb/search.htm

Sercquiais is the least spoken Romance language in the world. This language is spoken by only 3 people, on the island of Sark, in the Channel Islands. Sercquiais shares much with other Norman languages ​​spoken in the Channel Islands, including Guernésiais (from the island of Guernsey) and Jèrriais (from the island of Jersey). The Czech linguist Martin Neudorfl tried to preserve Sercquiais by teaching it in Sark schools. According to Martin, Sercquiais is a beautiful language, soft and pleasant to the ear as an elvish speech from The Lord of the Rings would be. It's almost music and it's definitely a language. In my eyes, we would lose something very important if we lost Sercquiais,” he concluded.

Some words in the Sarkese language:

• bonjhůr → good morning
• mérsî → thank you
• mérsî ben dê fê → thank you very much
• á bětô → goodbye

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240221-sarkese-britains-archaic-norman-language

The Ter Sámi language (Saa'mekiill), is the least spoken of the Sami languages ​​and the least spoken language in Europe. This rare language is spoken by only 2 people on the Kola Peninsula, Russia. Some words in Ter Sámi (Saa'mekiill):

• Moon → manna
• Day → peivv'e
• Leaf → lasst
• Fish → kɨll'e
• Tree → mɨrr
• Star → tass'ta
• Rain → abb're

The Tanema language is the least spoken Oceanic language in the world. It is a very rare and almost extinct language. According to a study conducted in 2008, this language has only 4 speakers left. The Tanema language is spoken on Vanikoro Island, Solomon Islands. Some words in the Tanema language:

• Water → Nira
• Fish → Namaka
• Mango → Pipoulo
• Pineapple → Bainapu
• Coconut → Vadua
• Turtle → Magaome
• Leaf → Lele
• Star → Vakmora
• Sun → Woya
• Moon → Maloula
• House → Nalama