Investigating the Correlation between Native Speakers’ Attitudes towards their Language and the Level of their Language Endangerment based on UNESCO’s Operational Document

The present study investigated the relationship between native speakers’ attitude towards their language and the level of their language endangerment based on UNESCO’s operational document of living and endangered languages (2003). The data were collected using a researcher-made attitude form from 10 villages in three provinces in Iran, namely Tehran, Alborz, and Hormozgan. The results were analyzed through the SPSS statistical software. The findings of the study indicated a positive significant correlation between two variables of native speakers’ attitude and the level of language endangerment. In other words, when the native speakers’ attitude is positive, their language and social identity have safer condition, and when the native speakers’ attitude is negative, it is predicated that language is in serious danger. The present study suggests that to preserve a language, upgrading the native speakers’ attitudes is one of the main solutions.