Dying Words: Endangered Languages and What They Have to Tell UsThe 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.
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Contents
Four | |
A Great Feast of Languages | |
Social Cognition in Grammar | |
Faint Tracks in an Ancient Wordscape | |
Hooking Ancient | |
Script | |
The Coevolution | |
HowDifferent Tongues Grow | |
What Verse | |
Listening While We | |
Sitting inthe Dust Standingin the | |
Both | |
Common terms and phrases
already American ancient Caucasian Central century changes chapter comes comparative complex contains countries culture decipherment detailed developed discussion distinct diversity documentation English evidence example experiments fact Figure German give given grammar Greek groups human important individual interest inthe Island Japanese Kayardild knowledge known Land language learning linguistic linked literally look material Mayan meaning move objects ofthe once onthe oral original particular past permission population possible problem questions reading recent reconstructed recording refer region represent Romani scholars script similar simply social sometimes sound speak speakers speech spoken story structure suggests syllables Table talk texts things thought tongue tothe traditional translation turn understand University verbs words writing written