On The Death and Life of Languages (Odile Jacob Series)

Gladding, Jody

ISBN 10: 0300137338 / ISBN 13: 9780300137330

Published by Yale University Press, 2009

The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR008422600

Synopsis:

Twenty-five languages die each year; at this pace, half the world's five thousand languages will disappear within the next century. In this timely book, Claude Hagege seeks to make clear the magnitude of the cultural loss represented by the crisis of language death. By focusing on the relationship of language to culture and the world of ideas, Hagege shows how languages are themselves crucial repositories of culture; the traditions, proverbs, and knowledge of our ancestors reside in the language we use. His wide-ranging examination covers all continents and language families to uncover not only how languages die, but also how they can be revitalized - for example in the remarkable case of Hebrew. In a striking metaphor, Hagege likens languages to bonfires of social behaviour that leave behind sparks even after they die; from these sparks languages can be rekindled and made to live again.

About the Author: Claude Hagege is the Chair of Linguistic Theory at the College de France in Paris. He is the author of more than fifteen books and the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including the Gold Medal from Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Bibliographic Details

Title: On The Death and Life of Languages (Odile ...
Publisher: Yale University Press
Publication Date: 2009
Binding: Hardback
Condition: Very Good