When Languages Die The Extinction of the World's Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge |
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| Author:
| Harrison, K. David |
| ISBN: | 978-0-19-537206-9 |
| Publication Date: | Jul 2008 |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press, Incorporated
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| Book Format: | Paperback |
| List Price: | USD $29.99 |
Book Description:
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Harrison's book is the first to focus on the essential question of 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? Spanning the globe from Siberia, to North America, to the Himalayas, and using fascinating anecdotes and portraits of some of these languages' last remaining speakers, Harrison looks at the forms of knowledge that are dying out. His book...
More DescriptionHarrison's book is the first to focus on the essential question of 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? Spanning the globe from Siberia, to North America, to the Himalayas, and using fascinating anecdotes and portraits of some of these languages' last remaining speakers, Harrison looks at the forms of knowledge that are dying out. His book is a testimony to the remarkable span of human knowledge and ingenuity, and will fascinate linguists, anthropologists, and general readers.