Flutes of Fire: An Introduction to Native California Languages Revised and Updated

by Leanne Hinton

An essential book on California’s Indigenous languages, updated for the first time in over 25 years. Before outsiders arrived, about one hundred distinct Indigenous languages were spoken in California, and many of them are in use today. Since its original publication in 1994, Flutes of Fire has become one of the classic books about California’s many Native languages. It is written to be approachable, entertaining, and informative—useful for people doing language revitalization work in their own communities, for linguists, and for a general readership interested in California’s rich cultural heritage. With significant updates by the author, this is the first new edition of Flutes of Fire in over 25 years. New chapters highlight the exciting efforts of language activists in recent times, as well as contemporary writing in several of California’s Native languages. Both a practical guide and a joy to read, Flutes of Fire is an essential book for anyone who cares about the Indigenous languages of California and their flourishing for many generations to come.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2022

Reviews

[NormaJean · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was 1000% awesome! And I even read the first edition. And I am a Native language learner, and my name is included in the book...yippee!!!!!

For anyone involved or even interested, Hinton presents a gold mine of intimate detail on how to bring a language back to life. I made a lengthy list of all the digital resources and look forward to exploring them.

Quite motivating and inspirational. Great gratitude for her life work. 🙏🏽

[Harley Zerega · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars:)

[Dree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally started the first edition of this book--which is also excellent, but also quite different. If you are looking more for a history of language reclamation and a look at California languages at one point in time, it is still totally worth a read. I wanted to read about the current status and issues, so this edition (2022) was the better choice for me.

This book is a fascinating look at native California tribes and languages (including those that cross state and national boundaries)--homelands and language families, heritage vs second language speakers, teaching and reclamation efforts and methods, and the work done currently and historically various tribes on their own languages and with linguists (many of whom, now, are natives academically trained and thus can read historic linguistic notation on their own languages). There are several nonprofit groups put together to help with pedagogical sharing and other support, and their efforts also appear here.

[Ryan Forletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. A collection of stand alone articles on Native Californian languages. Some chapters especially in the middle, are a little linguistically heavy. But the ending of book is fully of inspiration for anyone interested in learning one of the languages.

[Nikhil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is some of the best writing about language I’ve read to date