The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World's Most Endangered LanguagesPart travelogue and part scientist's notebook, The Last Speakers is the poignant chronicle of author K. David Harrison's expeditions around the world to meet with last speakers of vanishing languages. The speakers' eloquent reflections and candid photographs reveal little-known lifeways as well as revitalization efforts to teach disappearing languages to younger generations. Thought-provoking and engaging, this unique book illuminates the global language-extinction crisis through photos, graphics, interviews, traditional wisdom never before translated into English, and first-person essays that thrillingly convey the adventure of science and exploration. |
Other editions - View all
The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World's Most Endangered Languages K. David Harrison No preview available - 2010 |
The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World's Most Endangered Languages K. David Harrison No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
ancient animals asked become began body brother Chulym collect complex contain cultural described diversity efforts elders endangered English entire example exist extinction fact give global grammar Greg guage hand hear hotspots human hunting keep kind knew knowledge known Koro land language last speakers Lenape linguistic live look means memory mind mother native never observe once passed patterns perhaps person plants possible powerful recorded remain river Russian shaman share Siberia single social society song sounds speak speakers species spirit spoken story talk tell things thought tion Tofa told tongue traditional translation tree Tuvan understand unique University village words writing written young