Culture and communication in the Kewa language of Papua New Guinea (July 2012) A study co-authored by SIL International Anthropology Consultant Dr. Karl Franklin and his daughter, Dr. Karol Hardin of Baylor University, was published in the latest issue of the journal Oceanic Linguistics (Vol. 51, June 2012). “Complaints in Kewa Letters” provides insight into the language and culture of the Kewa community of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Read more about Culture and communication in the Kewa language of Papua New Guinea
SIL linguists contribute to new book on metaphors in endangered languages (June 2012) Endangered Metaphors, a book recently published by John Benjamins and edited by Anna Idström and Elisabeth Piirainen, explores the unique imagery and figures of speech found in a selection of the world’s endangered languages. SIL researchers contributed three of the book’s fifteen articles. Read more about SIL linguists contribute to new book on metaphors in endangered languages
Descriptive linguistics and cultural empathy course in Mexico (August 2009) Forty-three students participated in the Descriptive Linguistics and Cultural Empathy certificate course (Diplomado en Lingüística Descriptiva y Empatía Cultural) held 6–31 July at the State University of San Luis Potosí in Mexico. Now in its 19th year, this is the only state university summer program in linguistics offered in Mexico. Speakers of the Pame, Nahuatl, Chinantec, Mixtec, Popoluco, Totonac, Zapotec and Tarahumara languages were among the participants this year. Read more about Descriptive linguistics and cultural empathy course in Mexico
SIL linguist successfully proposes new phonetic symbol The council of the International Phonetic Association has approved the adoption of the first new symbol in twelve years into the International Phonetic Alphabet. The symbol proposed by SIL represents the labiodental flap, a speech sound found in central and southeastern Africa. The IPA is the organization that sets the standards for the transcription of speech sounds in the world’s languages. Read more about SIL linguist successfully proposes new phonetic symbol
