Bringing Our Languages Home: Language Revitalization for Families

by Leanne Hinton (Editor)

Throughout the world individuals in the intimacy of their homes innovate, improvise, and struggle daily to pass on endangered languages to their children. Elaina Albers of Northern California holds a tape recorder up to her womb so her baby can hear old songs in Karuk. The Baldwin family of Montana put labels all over their house marked with the Miami words for common objects and activities, to keep the vocabulary present and fresh. In Massachusetts, at the birth of their first daughter, Jesse Little Doe Baird and her husband convince the obstetrician and nurses to remain silent so that the first words their baby hears in this world are Wampanoag. Thirteen autobiographical accounts of language revitalization, ranging from Irish Gaelic to Mohawk, Kawaiisu to Māori, are brought together by Leanne Hinton, professor emerita of linguistics at UC Berkeley, who for decades has been leading efforts to preserve the rich linguistic heritage of the world. Those seeking to save their language will find unique instruction in these pages; everyone who admires the human spirit will find abundant inspiration.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Linguistics

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2013

Reviews

[CORSAK fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring collection of essays about ways native / indigenous peoples are making efforts to reclaim / revitalize their family / heritage languages.

The spotlighted languages are: Miami
Wampanoag
Karuk
Yuchi
Mohawk
Māori
Hawaiian
Anishinaabemowin
Irish
Kypriaka
Warlpiri
Kawaiisu
Scottish Gaelic

The interviewees highlighted important aspects of language work. How do you build an effective curriculum? How do you navigate negative pressures from naysayers? How do you raise children with more than one language and culture? How and when do linguists come into all of this? And more.

Someone previously commented that a lot more edited could have been used, that a lack of editing lowered what otherwise could have been high-quality essays. But this is where I respectfully disagree. I can see why the other commenter wrote that and I do see where it can seem that way.

I valued the authenticity of the texts more than their mechanical / technical perfections. Normally I wouldn't say that, but this is a book about language advocacy, not how to write formally. That context, I think, allows this difference.

[Kristin Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book -and its stories of families and their struggles and victories with their respective Indigenous languages- honestly makes me really emotional and reminds me of my passion and inspires me in what i want to achieve in my lifetime

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Deal | Interesting, but unfocused, repetitive, and needed a different structure. | I'm learning a "Vulnerable" language, not an endangered one, but much of this is still applicable. The reason that publishing companies don't generally publish books by non-writers is that they can't write, as simple as that. Hinton's choice to let the learners write their own sections, with--as she states--minimal editing, was likely because she felt the pure voice of those trying to save their languages was too valuable to dilute. It was not, to me, the right choice. The whole thing would have been both more valuable and more meaningful if she had done a series of planned interviews and then written the results in the third person. As it is, each section is choppy, tangential, and uncertain in goal or focus. I don't see that it can be used as either a guide or as inspiring motivation. Some sections are overly technical, some overly detailed, some overly informal, some have too much brevity, some try to tell too many stories, some draw out too few. I came away with the frustrated sense that all of these people have deeply valuable thoughts and experiences that a better and more hands-on editor could have shone a light on.

[NormaJean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was compelled to read this book because I am part of a family who is trying to revive our native language, one of the Ohlone languages in California.

Unlike another reviewer who felt the writing needed more editing, I was extremely pleased to see that Hinton left the essays intact. It enabled some of the flavor of the cultures to come through.

It's all about different perspectives and ways of seeing. I think the formula for the book worked well and I learned quite a bit.

PS I can certainly understand how somebody who is not attempting to revive a sleeping language might feel the essays needed editing to reduce repetitiveness. But for me, I need to know every single detail and angle that the individuals shared.

[Joanne-in-Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with lots of first hand experiences of people's attempts with varying success to use a heritage language into their homes. Honest reflections, inspirational ideas and useful tips. I was especially surprised to learn about the creation of a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) in Belfast. Who knew?