Though the truism about Inuits having a hundred words for snow is an e

Though the truism about Inuits having a hundred words for snow is an exaggeration, languages really are full of charming quirks that reveal the character of a culture. Dialects of Scottish Gaelic, for instance, traditionally spoken in the Highlands and, later on, in fishing villages, have a great many very specific words for seaweed, as well as names for each of the components of a rabbit snare and a word for an egg that emerges from a hen sans shell. Unfortunately for those who find these details fascinating, languages are going extinct at an incredible clip, - one dies every 14 days - and linguists are rushing around with tape recorders and word lists, trying to record at least a fragment of each before they go. The only way the old tongues will stick around is if populations themselves decide that there is something of value in them, whether for reasons of patriotism, cultural heritage, or just to lure in some language-curious tourists. But even when the general public opinion is for preservation of their linguistic diversity, linguists are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve such a task.

Mathematicians can help linguists out in this mission. To provide a test environment for programs that encourage the learning of endangered local languages, Anne Kandler and her colleagues decided to make a mathematical model of the speakers of Scottish Gaelic. This was an apposite choice because the local population was already becoming increasingly conscious about the cultural value of their language and statistics of the Gaelic speakers was readily available. The model the mathematicians built not only uses statistics such as the number of people speaking the languages, the number of polyglots and rate of change in these numbers but also figures which represent the economic value of the language and the perceived cultural value amongst people. These numbers were substituted in the differential equations of the model to find out the number of new Gaelic speakers required annually to stop the dwindling of the Gaelic population. The estimate of the number determined by Kandler’s research helped the national Gaelic Development Agency to formulate an effective plan towards the preserving the language.

Many languages such as Quechua, Chinook and Istrian Vlashki can be saved using such mathematical models. Results from mathematical equations can be useful in strategically planning preservation strategies. Similarly, mathematical analysis of languages which have survived against many odds can also provide useful insights which can be applied towards saving other endangered languages.

1. The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?
A. Outlining the various idiosyncrasies of some languages and their diversity.
B. Emphasizing the versatility of Mathematics.
C. Discussing the steps to be taken for saving languages.
D. Describing the importance of languages.
E. Describing the role of Mathematics in preserving languages.




2. Which of the following best describes the relation of the first paragraph to the passage as a whole?
A. It makes a general observation to be exemplified.
B. It outlines a process to be analyzed.
C. It identifies a problem the solution of which is to be discussed.
D. It advances an argument to be disputed.
E. It introduces conflicting arguments to be reconciled.




3. The Author’s conclusion that ‘languages such as Quechua, Chinook, and Istrian Vlashki can be saved using such mathematical models’ (beginning of the last para.) is most weakened if which of the following is found to be true?
A. The speakers of these languages perceive them as being inferior to other non-native languages
B. The mathematical models used for Gaelic language are simplistic and not applicable to these languages
C. Statistics of speakers of these languages have not been properly documented.
D. Patterns in the numbers of the speakers can only be identified by mathematical research.
E. Linguists have shown very little interest in these languages.