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Linguistics
News from the Field
New opportunity for saving languages from extinction
When a language dies, a piece of our civilization is irretrievably lost. But languages can be resurrected as well when the political and social climate is favorable, and speakers have powerful reasons why they need the language back, a language that would bind them and represent them.
Hebrew is a famous example of that. Through language we reconstruct our history; language is a reservoir of our culture.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has recently instituted a program aimed at teaching linguists how to reconstruct American Indian languages. The program's goal is to give native speakers the tools to revive their languages.
The program’s first student, Stephanie Fielding of the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut, graduated in May 2005. Her great-great-great-aunt Fidelia Fielding died in 1908; Fidelia was the last speaker of Mohegan. Today, Stephanie Fielding is devoted to reviving the language that Fidelia Fielding spoke.
Linguistics study at Connecticut College could prepare YOU for such an opportunity!
"Nelly's English Teacher"
An amusing animated look at how language - and how we look at it - changes daily. Here, rap singer Nelly has his paper graded by English teacher Mr. Brown!