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Dying Words

Endangered Languages and What They Have to Tell Us
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( 155 ratings, 16 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Dying Words examines the alarming loss of over half the world's 6,000 languages within this century, many vanishing without adequate documentation. Written by a leading figure in language preservation, it explores the unique philosophies and cultural knowledge embedded in these languages and their significance to humanity's intellectual heritage. Through vivid field examples and portraits of 'last speakers', the book brings linguistic diversity and its fragility to life, while questioning why such diversity exists and how best to record endangered traditions before they're lost forever.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$17400

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book suits readers interested in linguistics, anthropology, cultural heritage, and language preservation. It is valuable for academics, educators, and anyone passionate about understanding and protecting the world's disappearing languages.

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The next century will see more than half of the world's 6,000 languages become extinct, and most of these will disappear without being adequately recorded. Written by one of the leading figures in language documentation, this fascinating book explores what humanity stands to lose as a result.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The next century will see more than half of the world’s 6,000 languages become extinct, and most of these will disappear without being adequately recorded. Written by one of the leading figures in language documentation, this fascinating book explores what humanity stands to lose as a result.

Dying Words explores the unique philosophy, knowledge, and cultural assumptions of languages, and their impact on our collective intellectual heritage. It questions why such linguistic diversity exists in the first place and how we can best respond to the challenge of recording and documenting these fragile oral traditions while they are still with us.

Written by one of the leading figures in language documentation, the book draws on a wealth of vivid examples from the author's own field experience. It brings conceptual issues vividly to life by weaving in portraits of individual ‘last speakers’ and anecdotes about linguists and their discoveries.

Series: The Language Library

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  • Words of Wonder
    A gripping and moving text which explores the wealth of human language diversity, how deeply it matters, and how we can best turn the tide of language endangerment In the new, thoroughly revised second edition of Words of Wonder: Endangered Languages and What They Tell Us, Second Edition (formerly called Dying Words: Endangered Languages and What They Have to Tell...
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  • Dying Words
    The next century will see more than half of the world’s 6,000 languages become extinct, and most of these will disappear without being adequately recorded. Written by one of the leading figures in language documentation, this fascinating book explores what humanity stands to lose as a result. Dying Words explores the unique philosophy, knowledge, and cultural assumptions of languages, and...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised for its compelling and straightforward style, Dying Words appeals both to general readers and specialists alike. The Journal of Linguistic Anthropology notes its broad appeal, while Aboriginal History lauds it as story telling of the highest quality with important messages. Current Anthropology describes it as one of the most penetrating works on language in years. Additionally, Language Documentation and Conservation highlights its potential to raise public awareness about the value of endangered languages and the urgency to support their survival.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780631233060

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 April 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Wiley-Blackwell

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 172.0mm

Height: 247.0mm

Weight: 485g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Nicholas Evans is Professor of Linguistics at the Australian National University and a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. He is on the editorial boards of the journals Linguistic Typology and Australian Journal of Linguistics, and on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen. He is the author of a number of books, including Bininj Gun-wok (2 volumes, 2001), Archaeology and Linguistics: Aboriginal Australia in Global Perspective (co-edited with Patrick McConvell, 1998), and A Grammar of Kayardild (1992).

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