80,000+ Books in-stock in NZ 📚

King’s Birthday Sale starts early! Up to 20% off books, games & toys 👑

Dying Words

Endangered Languages and What They Have to Tell Us
By Nicholas Evans
Series: The Language Library
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.89 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 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.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$16900

International Supplier

This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 2-3 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

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.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

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

View all

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.

Book Hero reading reviews

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

Collections

Education & Reference Nicholas Evans Non-Fiction Series: The Language Library

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).

Also by Nicholas Evans

View all

More from Education & Reference

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

The Latest at Book Hero

View all