Tag Archives: Dr. K. David Harrison

Endangered Language Activism, K. David Harrison, Media and Publicity, Support Endangered Languages

Harrison’s “The Last Speakers” published in Japanese

Image

K. David Harrison’s acclaimed book “The Last Speakers” was recently translated into Japanese and published in Japan, which is home to nearly a million speakers of a dozen endangered languages, such as Ainu, Amami, Kunigami, Miyako, and others.

He was interviewed by National Geographic News Watch about the book:

Q: What do you hope will be the results of having this new translation available?

A: The Last Speakers features personal narratives of “language warriors” from around the world, who are taking heroic measures to save their languages. I hope that the endangered language communities and allies in Japan will find these stories inspiring, and know that they are not alone in their efforts, but are part of a global grassroots movement to save language diversity.

To read the rest of the interview, click right here.

Endangered Language Activism, Enduring Voices Project, Gregory D. S. Anderson, Indigenous Language Activists, K. David Harrison, Language Hotspots, Launches and Public Events, Media and Publicity, Support Endangered Languages

“Vanishing Voices” in National Geographic Magazine, July 2012

Great news! An in-depth article about endangered languages is in this month’s issue of National Geographic Magazine. Written by journalist Russ Rymer, with amazing images by photographer Lynn Johnson, the article explores global language loss, with profiles on language revitalization efforts among speakers of languages such as Tuvan, Aka, Chemehuevi, Wintu, Euchee and Seri.

Living Tongues Director Dr. Gregory D.S. Anderson and Director of Research Dr. K. David Harrison were interviewed for the piece, and their documentation work in Arunachal Pradesh (India), among Aka speakers, is discussed. Pick up a copy in news stands before the end of the month! Here is the cover, which features coverage on Easter Island, and in the top left-hand area, you can see that “Saving Lost Languages” is one of the featured topics of the issue.

Image

Endangered Language Activism, Enduring Voices Project, K. David Harrison, Language Hotspots, Media and Publicity, Support Endangered Languages

Live-blog from Fieldwork in Kalmykia!

Image

“Cultural revival in Europe’s only Buddhist region” by K. David Harrison is available online through the Nat Geo Explorers Journal.

“During the past week the Enduring Voices team visited the Republic of Kalmykia, an obscure corner in European Russia, on the Caspian Sea.

The Kalmyk people are of Mongol origin, having migrated to Europe from Mongolia at the turn of the 17th century. They experienced genocide and deportation in the 1940s under Stalin, and have struggled to keep their culture alive…” To read more, click here.

 

Digital Resources, Endangered Language Activism, Indigenous Language Activists, Launches and Public Events, Media and Publicity, Support Endangered Languages, Workshops

38 hours left!

Dear Living Tongues supporters,

Hello, this is David Harrison reminding you that we are currently raising funds to support language revitalization projects around the world.

Your gift will allow Living Tongues to support language warriors in Chile, Papua New Guinea, India, and Peru, with technology and training they need.

There are 38 hours left days left on our fundraising campaign
for Language Technology Kits on Indiegogo.

To those who have already contributed, I want to extend a sincere thank you for your help in safeguarding cultural and linguistic diversity.

Please consider making a gift today.
http://www.indiegogo.com/livingtongues_kits

Thank you!
K. David Harrison

ps: Stay tuned for upcoming news about our upcoming fieldwork to Siberia, events at the United Nations and other new projects!