When Languages Die: The Extinction of the World’s
Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge by K.
David Harrison
Harrison starts his book by giving a short
overview of the rate at which languages are dying: “We do not even know what
exactly we stand to lose – for science, for humanity, for posterity – when
languages die” (Harrison, 2007:3). Its chapters cover ways in which different calendars,
methods of time reckoning and counting, traditional agricultural practices, and
immediate surroundings are reflected in different cultures’ languages. For
example, the number of months in a year and their names in different languages
and cultures are given with a description as to how these names came about. Explanations
of the way in which a dominant language is taking the place of these endangered
language speakers’ mother tongue is also given.
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| When Languages Die. Oxford University Press. |
Various case studies are also included, as
well as some of the mythology, legends, and folklore of a people which are
almost forgotten or lost. The current knowledge of speakers show just how eroded
their folk knowledge have become as only snatches of stories and songs are
remembered. For me this held special interest. The way in which the use of
dominant languages are causing smaller languages’ extinction are at the
forefront of this volume.
However, even though it is quite a
fascinating book and Harrison is clearly extremely passionate about his
subject, the tone of the book (along with the repetition that dominant global
languages are causing the extinction of vast amounts of knowledge) is in some
places off-putting and almost patronising. Moving past this, I can recommend
this book to not only those interested in linguistics, but also those
interested in mythology, legends, and cultures in general.
I got this book from the library, but it is
also available from bookshops and online.
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