Mühlhäusler, P.Bradley, D.Bradley, M.2007-05-162007-05-162002Language endangerment and language maintenance, 2002 / Bradley, D., Bradley, M. (ed./s), pp.34-390700714561http://hdl.handle.net/2440/30110The topic of this chapter is why one cannot preserve languages. There is much I would like to say and much I have said on this issue but I shall concentrate on one issue which I believe is crucial: Linguists have operated with a concept of language that is ill-suited to the business of reversing the decline of the world's linguistic diversity and indeed may be one of the causes that accelerates it.enLanguage maintenancelanguage attritionBook chapter002002188210.4324/9781315028811-102-s2.0-8507033554859624