Tag Archives: k. david Harrison

Digital Resources, Endangered Language Activism, Enduring Voices Project, Indigenous Language Activists, K. David Harrison, Language Hotspots, Launches and Public Events, Media and Publicity, Support Endangered Languages, Talking Dictionaries, Workshops

“Festival of Words” and Dictionary Workshop in Colombia

ImageIn October 2012, Dr. K. David Harrison traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, to participate in the 3rd annual “Festival de la Palabra” (Festival of Words) in honor of the diversity indigenous languages and cultures in Colombia.

The event was organized by the Instituto Caro y Cuervo. More information, including the event program, can be found on the event website, which describes the event as follows:

“El Festival de la Palabra Caro y Cuervo en su tercera versión está dirigido a presentar la riqueza cultural de diversas comunidades indígenas de nuestro país a través de manifestaciones culturales (música, danza, arte propio, medicina tradicional), esta es una oportunidad para compartir un espacio alrededor de la palabra.
 
El Festival de la Palabra Caro y Cuervo es el evento más destacado dentro de las actividades que la institución desarrolla en el marco de la conmemoración de sus 70 años de existencia. La programación incluye talleres, conferencias y mesas redondas sobre lenguas nativas en las que participarán representantes de las comunidades indígenas, estudiosos e investigadores de estas comunidades; así mismo habrá una muestra artística y cultural. El evento contará también con la participación del lingüista David Harrison quien es conocido por sus estudios de lenguas en peligro de extinción.”

In conjunction with the festival, Dr. Harrison was also involved in teaching a Talking Dictionary Workshop. He met many leaders in the field of indigenous language activism in Colombia. Here are some of his photos, and the rest of the slideshow can be viewed on his Living Tongues photo album on Facebook.

ImageProf. Eudocio Becarra (Uitoto language expert) with Páez (Nasa Yuwe) team members Yesenia Rincón Jimenéz and Anania Piñacue.

Image
Embera team recording: Angelica Maná Avila, Daniel Aguirre, Lina Tobón Yagaií

Image

Audience at K. David Harrison lecture on digital dictionaries

Instituto Caro y Cuervo, Bogotá, Colombia

Endangered Language Activism, Indigenous Language Activists, K. David Harrison, Language Hotspots, Launches and Public Events, Media and Publicity, Support Endangered Languages, Talking Dictionaries

Endangered Languages Fair at the New York Public Library

On September 29th, 2012, the Ethnic Services Round Table of the New York Library Association, the Endangered Language Alliance, and the New York Public Library (NYPL) joined forces to raise awareness about minority languages in danger. Attendees learned why small languages matter and what efforts are being made to preserve them.

Check out the Endangered Languages Fair event line-up on the NYPL website. There is also a write-up on the Endangered Language Alliance website.

K. David Harrison, Research Director for Living Tongues Institute and author of “The Last Speakers: The Quest to save the World’s Most Endangered Languages”, gave a special multi-media presentation entitled “Endangered Languages: Local & Global Perspectives”. Many other speakers and activists were also featured at the event. Here are some photos of the fair, courtesy of Living Tongues volunteer Natalie Feingold.

Introduction to K. David Harrison’s presentation at the New York Public Library

K. David Harrison addressing the crowd about language extinction

K. David Harrison and Living Tongues volunteer Natalie Feingold

For more background on the event, check out “Why Save Languages? A Few Words About Language Extinction and Revitalization” written by Brigid Cahalan, Library Sites & Services/Outreach for New York Publich Library.