SIL linguist documents endangered languages in Papua New Guinea (June 2012) Because every language and culture is part of the mosaic of humanity, SIL is concerned for endangered languages and the communities that speak those languages. SIL linguist Dr. Ken McElhanon recently undertook a project entitled, "Comparative dictionary and digital recordings for Huon Peninsula languages." The research was funded by a Documenting Endangered Languages (DEL) fellowship provided by the US National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation. McElhanon serves as a senior professor at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics. Read more about SIL linguist documents endangered languages in 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
Journal highlights research on social dynamics of language in Melanesia (May 2012) The South Pacific region of Melanesia contains roughly nineteen percent of the world’s living languages—the highest concentration of languages per square kilometer in the world. However, surprisingly little research has focused on the social dynamics of language use in the region. “Language Use in Melanesia,” a recent special issue of the International Journal of the Sociology of Language (IJSL), examines a variety of topics, including language vitality and endangerment. SIL linguists Dr. M. Lynn Landweer and Dr. Read more about Journal highlights research on social dynamics of language in Melanesia
SIL partner marks fiftieth anniversary with development conference (May 2012) “Language and Culture in National Development” was the theme of a conference that recently took place in the West African nation of Ghana. The gathering was jointly sponsored by the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies and the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT). This was one of several events planned for 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of both institutions and of their collaboration for language development in local communities. Read more about SIL partner marks fiftieth anniversary with development conference
Ten language groups come together for dictionary development workshop FROM THE DESK OF THE COORDINATOR FOR DICTIONARIES AND LEXICOGRAPHY Read more about Ten language groups come together for dictionary development workshop
