The Last Language On Earth

Author : Piers Kelly
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 329 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2021
Category : Foreign Language Study
ISBN : 9780197509913

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The Last Language on Earth by Piers Kelly Pdf

"The Eskayan language of Bohol in the southern Philippines has been an object of controversy ever since it came to light in the early 1980s. Written in an unusual script Eskayan bears no obvious similarity to any known language of the Philippines, a fact that has prompted speculation that it was either displaced from afar, fossilized from the deep past, or invented as an elaborate hoax. This book investigates the history of Eskayan through a systematic review of its writing system, grammar and lexicon, and carefully evaluates written and oral narratives provided by its contemporary speakers. The linguistic analysis largely supports the traditional view that Eskayan was the deliberate creation of a legendary ancestor by the name of Pinay. The study traces the identity of Pinay through the turbulent history of early 20th-century Bohol when the island suffered a series of catastrophes at the hands of the United States occupation. It was at this time that the ancestor Pinay was channelled by Mariano Datahan, a multilingual prophet who foretold that English and other languages would be abandoned and that Eskayan would one day be spoken by everyone in the world. To make sense of this situation, the book draws on theorizations of postcolonial resistance, language ideology, mimesis, and the utopian political dynamics of highland societies. In so doing, it offers a linguistic and ethnographic history of Eskayan and of the ideologies and historical circumstances that motivated its creation"--

Author : K. David Harrison Assistant Professor of Linguistics Swarthmore College
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 306 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2007-02-01
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780198040170

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When Languages Die : The Extinction of the World's Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge by K. David Harrison Assistant Professor of Linguistics Swarthmore College Pdf

It is commonly agreed by linguists and anthropologists that the majority of languages spoken now around the globe will likely disappear within our lifetime. The phenomenon known as language death has started to accelerate as the world has grown smaller. This extinction of languages, and the knowledge therein, has no parallel in human history. K. David Harrison's book is the first to focus on the essential question, what is lost when a language dies? What forms of knowledge are embedded in a language's structure and vocabulary? And how harmful is it to humanity that such knowledge is lost forever? Harrison spans the globe from Siberia, to North America, to the Himalayas and elsewhere, to look at the human knowledge that is slowly being lost as the languages that express it fade from sight. He uses fascinating anecdotes and portraits of some of these languages' last remaining speakers, in order to demonstrate that this knowledge about ourselves and the world is inherently precious and once gone, will be lost forever. This knowledge is not only our cultural heritage (oral histories, poetry, stories, etc.) but very useful knowledge about plants, animals, the seasons, and other aspects of the natural world--not to mention our understanding of the capacities of the human mind. Harrison's book is a testament not only to the pressing issue of language death, but to the remarkable span of human knowledge and ingenuity. It will fascinate linguists, anthropologists, and general readers.

Author : Asya Pereltsvaig
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 503 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2020-09-03
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781108479325

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Languages of the World by Asya Pereltsvaig Pdf

Requiring no background in linguistics, this book introduces readers to the rich diversity of human languages.

Author : Nicholas Ostler
Publisher : Penguin UK
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2011
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781846142161

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The Last Lingua Franca by Nicholas Ostler Pdf

The author of "Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin" presents an erudite and provocative examination of the rise and coming fall of English as the world's language. Illustrations. Maps.

Author : Raymond Hickey
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 697 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2023-08-31
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781009226417

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Life and Language Beyond Earth by Raymond Hickey Pdf

Could we communicate with lifeforms on exoplanets? This thought-provoking book explores the likelihood of life and language beyond Earth.

Author : Sam Mickey,Mary Evelyn Tucker,John Grim
Publisher : Open Book Publishers
Page : 251 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2020-05-18
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781783748068

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Living Earth Community: Multiple Ways of Being and Knowing by Sam Mickey,Mary Evelyn Tucker,John Grim Pdf

Living Earth Community: Multiple Ways of Being and Knowing is a celebration of the diversity of ways in which humans can relate to the world around them, and an invitation to its readers to partake in planetary coexistence. Innovative, informative, and highly accessible, this interdisciplinary anthology of essays brings together scholars, writers and educators across the sciences and humanities, in a collaborative effort to illuminate the different ways of being in the world and the different kinds of knowledge they entail – from the ecological knowledge of Indigenous communities, to the scientific knowledge of a biologist and the embodied knowledge communicated through storytelling. This anthology examines the interplay between Nature and Culture in the setting of our current age of ecological crisis, stressing the importance of addressing these ecological crises occurring around the planet through multiple perspectives. These perspectives are exemplified through diverse case studies – from the political and ethical implications of thinking with forests, to the capacity of storytelling to motivate action, to the worldview of the Indigenous Okanagan community in British Columbia. Living Earth Community: Multiple Ways of Being and Knowing synthesizes insights from across a range of academic fields, and highlights the potential for synergy between disciplinary approaches and inquiries. This anthology is essential reading not only for researchers and students, but for anyone interested in the ways in which humans interact with the community of life on Earth, especially during this current period of environmental emergency.

Author : Daniel Nettle,Suzanne Romaine
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 254 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2000-07-27
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780198031185

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Vanishing Voices by Daniel Nettle,Suzanne Romaine Pdf

Few people know that nearly one hundred native languages once spoken in what is now California are near extinction, or that most of Australia's 250 aboriginal languages have vanished. In fact, at least half of the world's languages may die out in the next century. Daniel Nettle and Suzanne Romaine assert that this trend is far more than simply disturbing. Making explicit the link between language survival and environmental issues, they argue that the extinction of languages is part of the larger picture of near-total collapse of the worldwide ecosystem. Indeed, the authors contend that the struggle to preserve precious environmental resources-such as the rainforest-cannot be separated from the struggle to maintain diverse cultures, and that the causes of language death, like that of ecological destruction, lie at the intersection of ecology and politics. In addition to defending the world's endangered languages, the authors also pay homage to the last speakers of dying tongues, such as Red Thundercloud, a Native American in South Carolina; Ned Mandrell, with whom the Manx language passed away in 1974; and Arthur Bennett, an Australian who was the last person to know more than a few words of Mbabaram. In our languages lies the accumulated knowledge of humanity. Indeed, each language is a unique window on experience. Vanishing Voices is a call to preserve this resource, before it is too late.

Author : Gopal Rayappa Kolekar
Publisher : Blue Rose Publishers
Page : 191 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2021-09-16
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9789354724695

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THE MODERN ADMINISTRATION OF THE EARTH by Gopal Rayappa Kolekar Pdf

I was inspired to write this book by observing as to what is presently happening on the earth such as Global hunger, Child labor, Global warming, Corruption, Illiteracy and Poverty of the people in some countries and Terrorism and Guerilla warfare. I am paying very serious attention to this matter. It just amounts to unscientific administrative policy or a chaotic policy followed by a few countries and purposely some countries are indulging in terrorism tactics. Some governments pursue this policy resolutely with a view to terrorize the inhabitants of the earth. It can be seen that in a few countries the political leaders are following the present independent administrative policy of each country in a persistent manner. I have been a keen observer of this and have found that they are purposefully doing this, but I am a scientist in HRD studyand one HRD scientist is equal to God in respect of knowledge and power also. I cannot tolerate any kind of inhuman /illegal activities on the earth. By seeing this I am changing the world’s Administrative Policy as per the directions mentioned in this book. I appeal to the earth’s inhabitants to usher in this new Administrative Policy in the interest of the world with a view to have everlasting peace and the resulting satisfaction as to their lifespan on this planet.

Author : Isaac Wheeler Avery
Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
Page : 90 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 2024-01-24
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9783385321571

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In Memory. The Last Sickness, Death, and Funeral Obsequies, of Alexander H. Stephens, Governor of Georgia by Isaac Wheeler Avery Pdf

Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.

Author : Nicholas Ostler
Publisher : Penguin UK
Page : 347 pages
File Size : 53,5 Mb
Release : 2010-11-04
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780141922218

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The Last Lingua Franca by Nicholas Ostler Pdf

In this provocative and persuasive new book, Nicholas Ostler challenges our assumption that English will continue to dominate as the global lingua franca. Drawing on his encyclopaedic knowledge of world languages and their history, Ostler reveals that just as past great languages like Latin and Sanskrit have died out, so English will follow. The influence of English now is hard to exaggerate - it is the world's preferred medium for business, science and entertainment, and is claimed to be a basic educational tool like mathematics or computing. So is it here to stay? For the last four centuries, the dominant world power has been English-speaking, but the global balance of power is shifting. And in countries like Brazil, Russia and China, English plays no part in the national tradition. Although globalization has helped the rise of English, trade, migration, economic development and technological innovation are now changing the way we access and use language. Ostler shows how we are headed towards a much more multilingual and diverse future. And as English retreats, no single language will take its place. We can embrace this future but first we need to accept it: the last competitive advantage of native English-speakers will soon be consigned to history.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 1380 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 1896
Category : Encyclopedias and dictionaries
ISBN : UIUC:30112069828439

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The Modern World Dictionary of the English Language ... by Anonim Pdf

Author : Wurm, Stephen A.
Publisher : UNESCO
Page : 92 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2001-07-17
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9789231037986

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Atlas of the world's languages in danger of disappearing by Wurm, Stephen A. Pdf

Close to half of the 6,000 languges spoken in the world are doomed or likely to disappear in the foreseeable future. The disappearance of any language is an irreparable loss for the heritage of all humankind. This new edition of the Atlas, first published in 1996, is intended to give a graphic picture of the magnitude of the problem and a comprehensive list of languages in danger.

Author : Nicholas Evans
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 300 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2022-05-16
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9781119758754

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Words of Wonder by Nicholas Evans Pdf

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 Us), renowned scholar Nicholas Evans delivers an accessible and incisive text covering the impact of mass language endangerment. The distinguished author explores issues surrounding the preservation of indigenous languages, including the best and most effective ways to respond to the challenge of recording and documenting fragile oral traditions while they’re still with us. This latest edition offers an entirely new chapter on new developments in language revitalisation, including the impact of technology on language archiving, the use of social media, and autodocumentation by speakers. It also includes a number of new sections on how recent developments in language documentation give us a fuller picture of human linguistic diversity. Seeking to answer the question of why widespread linguistic diversity exists in the first place, the book weaves in portraits of individual “last speakers” and anecdotes about linguists and their discoveries. It provides access to a companion website with sound files and embedded video clips of various languages mentioned in the text. It also offers: A thorough introduction to the astonishing diversity of the world’s languages Comprehensive exploration of how the study of living languages can help us understand deep human history, including the decipherment of unknown texts in ancient languages Discussions of the intertwining of language, culture and thought, including both fieldwork and experimental studies An introduction to the dazzling beauty and variety of oral literature across a range of endangered languages In-depth examinations of the transformative effect of new technology on language documentation and revitalisation Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students studying language endangerment and preservation and for any reader who wants to discover what the full diversity of the world’s languages has to teach us, Words of Wonder: Endangered Languages and What They Tell Us, Second Edition, will earn a place in the libraries of linguistics, anthropology, and sociology scholars with a professional or personal interest in endangered languages and in the full wealth of the world’s languages.

Author : Sir Richard Phillips
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 482 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 1833
Category : America
ISBN : IND:30000120569771

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A Geographical View of the World by Sir Richard Phillips Pdf

Author : A. H. Sayce
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 445 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2019-07-23
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780429805325

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Introduction to the Science of Language by A. H. Sayce Pdf

First published in 1900, this was the first of two volumes of the magnum opus from pioneer assyriologist and linguist Rev. Archibald Sayce and provided an introduction to theories on the nature, behaviour and development of languages along with the morphology and physiology of speech. In it, Sayce was the first to emphasize the principle of partial assimilation and the linguistic principle of analogy. This 4th edition, ten years after the first, reflected on the limitations of science revealed since 1890, in an era when languages, like other humanities subjects, still idealised scientific approaches. Archibald Henry Sayce was one of the greatest comparative linguists of the time, being proficient in Accadian, Arabic, Cuneiform, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Hebrew, Hittite, Japanese, Latin, Persian, Phoenician, Sanscrit and Sumerian. He had a good knowledge of every Semitic and Indo-European language and could write good prose in at least twenty languages. Sayce's first major contribution to scholarship was a highly significant translation of an Accadian seal, a 'bilingual text' from which to translate cuneiform, similar to the Rosetta Stone. Here then, no doubt, the reader learns from a master of comparative linguistics.