Title
When Languages Die: The Extinction of the World's Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge,New
Processing time: 1-3 days
US Orders Ships in: 3-5 days
International Orders Ships in: 8-12 days
Return Policy: 15-days return on defective items
Payment Option
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 worldnot 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.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main topic of 'When Languages Die'? A: 'When Languages Die' focuses on the phenomenon of language death and explores what knowledge is lost when a language becomes extinct.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'When Languages Die' is K. David Harrison, a linguist and anthropologist.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: 'When Languages Die' has a total of 304 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: The book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: When was 'When Languages Die' published? A: 'When Languages Die' was published on July 21, 2008.
- Q: What insights does the book provide about language extinction? A: The book provides insights into the cultural and practical knowledge embedded in languages and discusses the implications of losing this knowledge.
- Q: Is this book suitable for general readers? A: Yes, 'When Languages Die' is suitable for general readers interested in linguistics, anthropology, and cultural heritage.
- Q: What themes are explored in 'When Languages Die'? A: The themes include language death, cultural heritage, and the importance of preserving linguistic diversity.
- Q: Are there any anecdotes included in the book? A: Yes, the book includes fascinating anecdotes and portraits of some of the last remaining speakers of endangered languages.
- Q: Does the book discuss the impact of language loss on human knowledge? A: Yes, it discusses how language loss leads to the erosion of cultural knowledge and the understanding of our world.