L’apprendimento della complessità: il caso della didattica delle lingue polisintetiche del Canada e della California

The present work aims at studying the learning process features both in Canada (i.e. cayuga, cree, delaware, mohawk, ojibwe, oji-cree, e oneida) and California polysynthetic languages (Santa Barbara’s area, Malibu). Methods used to convey linguistic contents about polysynthetic languages are especially investigated. For this very purpose, two study cases of major importance are analyzed: the enhancing and spreading of Canada’s polysynthetic languages and the revitalization process of California’s aboriginal languages. In the latter case, special attention is given to Chumash, an aboriginal language originally from Santa Barbara’s area (Malibu). Educational patterns used in several situation will be compared. At last, a detailed representation of polysynthetic didactic approaches will be provided, relating the width of aboriginal communities, the linguistic vitality and the educational decisions.