MN School Helps Revival of Native American Languages

MN School Helps Revival of Native American LanguagesPublic News Service - MNOctober 1, 2014MINNEAPOLIS - As the number of speakers fluent in Native American languages continues to fade, a Minnesota school like few others in this nation is helping to keep those languages alive.The Bdote Learning Center in Minneapolis is a year-round charter school where the students are immersed in either Dakota or Ojibwe. Interim Director Mike Huerth said it's an incredibly important time for both."My sons live on a reservation that has lost its language," he said. "There are no more speakers alive in that tribe - and it's a very sad thing, because once a language dies, it doesn't come back."Access full article below:http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-10-01/education/mn-school-helps-revival-of-native-american-languages/a41990-1

The Indigenous Language Challenge

(From the ILAT Listserv)Colleen M FitzgeraldThe Indigenous Language ChallengePosted: 09/19/2014 2:43 pm EDTPeople are posting videos where they take on dramatic challenges and tag others to join in. It's an energetic effort to raise awareness...to use Native American languages. The 2014 Indigenous Language Challenge is on. Comedian Tonia Jo Hall, a Lakota teacher in training, posted a video of her young daughter singing in Lakota."Whatever your native language is, we challenge you to post a 10-15 sec video no matter what it is as long as you're speaking your language," Hall wrote. She's not the only Native American language activist, learner, or teacher to promote indigenous language use via social media video challenges.​Access full article below:​http://www.huffingtonpost.com/colleen-m-fitzgerald/the-indigenous-language-c_b_5850364.html

Saving Native Languages and Culture in Mexico With Computer Games

(From the ILAT Listserv)Rick Kearns9/21/14Indigenous children in Mexico can now learn their mother tongues with specialized computer games, helping to prevent the further loss of those languages across the country.“Three years ago, before we employed these materials, we were on the verge of seeing our children lose our Native languages,” asserted Matilde Hernandez, a teacher in Zitacuaro, Michoacan.“Now they are speaking and singing in Mazahua as if that had never happened,” Hernandez said, referring to computer software that provides games and lessons in most of the linguistic families of the country including Mazahua, Chinanteco, Nahuatl of Puebla, Tzeltal, Mixteco, Zapateco, Chatino and others.http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/09/21/saving-native-languages-and-culture-mexico-computer-games-156961

How a 17th Century Bible is Helping to Revive a Native-American Language

Four hundred years ago, before the Pilgrims washed up on Plymouth in 1620, the Massachusetts coast was home to at least 12,000 Native Americans united by a common language: Wômpanâak. Also known as Wampanoag, Natic, or Pokanoket, Wômpanâak was one of the Massachusett languages that gave the modern state its name. It was the language of Massasoit and Tisquantum; traces of it are still found in English, with words like skunk (squnck) and squash (askosquash). While Wômpanâak should rightfully be enshrined as a major touchstone of early American culture and history, instead, it was a language put under assault. Between smallpox, endemic warfare and enslavement, flight to other Native American tribes, and centuries of forced Christianization and European assimilation in New England’s infamous praying towns, by the close of the 18th century there were only a few hundred Wômpanâak speakers left. By 1833, the language was dead. Until, 160 years later, it suddenly wasn’t dead anymore.Today, after regaining their tribal identity in 1928, there are 2,000 Wômpanâak in southern Massachusetts. And one of them, Jessie Little Doe Baird, has found a way to bring their language back to life. Born in 1963 in the Mashpee (Massippee) band of Cape Cod, Baird claims when she was 30 she began having visions of her ancestors, pushing her to revive the tongue. She started the Wômpanâak Language Reclamation Project in 1993, eventually composing her Master’s thesis on Algonquian Linguistics at MIT. Baird and linguists Kenneth Hale and Norvin Richards used religious texts and letters written by Natives and missionaries to painstakingly reconstruct Wômpanâak grammar and vocabulary. And miraculously, with the aid of volunteers from the region’s Mashpee, Aquinnah, Assonet, and Herring Pond (Manomet or Comassakumkanit) bands, there are now many classes and teaching tools in the language. As of 2014 there were at least 15 competent Wômpanâak speakers in the world. Baird’s success is exceptional—some say she’s the fulfillment of a prophecy—given the number of dead and dying languages in the world, and the rarity of revival. But she’s also the start of a new wave of language resurgences, as what once seemed an impossible act of resurrection becomes more and more common.Read the rest of the article here:http://magazine.good.is/articles/saving-the-wompanaak-language

Diné Bizaad App for iPhone®, iPad® & iPod touch® by Native Innovation, Inc.

(From the ILAT Listserv)The Diné Bizaad App for iPhone®, iPad® & iPod touch® by Native Innovation, Inc. is here!! The Navajo Dictionary app properly named Diné Bizaad app has been published to the iTunes store this weekend. This language learning tool contains data that is loaded through a form of open source. This is done by a facilitation group of Diné language enthusiasts contributing from anywhere around the world. In fact, this goal of community based sharing helped develop the move from a desktop browser to a mobile app design. The concept of crowdsourcing common Diné words and phrases allows us to input the regional variations of pronunciations and vocabularies spoken by our Diné people.The Diné Bizaad app has two parts, a Diné-English vocabulary and a English-Diné vocabulary. The English words and phrases are all associated to Diné words and phrases. The synonyms element and antonyms element are important principal parts in searching correct Diné word and phrase associations within the app. Access full article: http://nativeinnovation.us/index.php/the-new-dine-bizaad-app-for-iphone-ipad-ipod-touch/"Ahéhee' hane' shá náás bi’ííníłnii'ígíí thanks for the retweet!” #DinéBizaad #edtech #mlearning Download yours today!! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dine-bizaad/id914242572?mt=8

Project aims to preserve Native American languages in Montana

(from the ILAT Listserv)by Tim McGonigalProject aims to preserve Native American languages in MontanaFORT BELKNAP -- A major effort is underway to record Native American languages in Montana so they won't vanish completely.Statistics show that out of about 6,000 residents of Montana's Native communities, there may be 5% or fewer actual speakers of traditional tribal languages.A recent grant from the Montana Legislature resulted in a two-year pilot program for recording and archiving these endangered languages.Access full article below:http://www.kxlh.com/news/project-aims-to-preserve-native-american-languages-in-montana/

Open Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, University of Alberta Language Technology Lab

The Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Fellowship, beginning in early 2015, within the research project 21st Century Tools for Indigenous Languages, funded by a Partnership Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The start date is negotiable, and the appointment is tenable for two years, subject to a review after the first year.Description of the position can be found here.While the project will start considering applications in just two weeks, on Jan 26th, if we hear at least expressions of interests from qualified candidates before/by that date and have an opportunity to discuss their personal/research fit with the position, we most likely will be able to wait for a proper, full application sometime after that date.This research project is associated with several laboratories and institutes within the Department of Linguistics and is led by Dr. Antti Arppe (Alberta Language Technology Laboratory: ALTLAB), Dr. Jordan Lachler (Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute: CILLDI), Dr. Juhani Järvikivi (Centre for Comparative Psycholinguistics: CCP), and Dr. Timothy Mills (ALTLab, Alberta Phonetics Laboratory: APhL). Furthermore, we are collaborating within Canada with the Cree Literacy Network and internationally with the Giellatekno and Divvun research and development teams in University of Tromsø, Norway.Currently, we are developing computational models of the phonetics, morphology and lexis of Plains Cree, with the goal of creating software applications that support the continued use of the language in daily life by both speakers and learners.  These include an intelligent electronic dictionary, a spell-checker, computer-aided language learning and practice tools, a word form analyzer and generator, as well as a text-to-speech synthesizer.  We have also embarked on initial similar work with other American Indigenous languages, such as Northern Haida, that our collaborators have expertise in. Further details of our project can be found at: http://altlab.artsrn.ualberta.caThe tasks of the Postdoctoral Fellow will include the following, allowing for variation based on the the successful applicant’s background, competences and research interests:

  1. participation in, or responsibility for, the continued development of Plains Cree computational morphological and phonetic models and applications based on community feedback; 2. participation in, or responsibility for, the basic development of computational morphological and phonetic models and prototype applications for an Indigenous language other than Plains Cree, ideally one spoken in Canada; 3. partial training and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students (M.A/Ph.D level) in developing basic model and prototype applications for an Indigenous language other than Plains Cree; 4. engagement with Indigenous community consultants on collecting primary linguistic data and gathering feedback from field-testers; and 5. other administrative responsibilities

By the end of the Postdoctoral appointment, the successful applicant will have a set of skills that will allow them to partner with Indigenous communities and field linguists to develop a range of sophisticated tools in support of language maintenance and revitalization.Successful applicants may have either (a) specialized in the documentation and study of one or more Indigenous American languages, and have a familiarity with (or willingness to learn) computational modeling, or have (b) specialized in the computational modelling (text and/or speech) of morphologically rich languages, and have a familiarity with (or willingness to learn) the essential morphological and phonetic characteristics of the languages our project is working with.The fellowship comes with a salary of $34,500-$38,000 (CAD) per annum plus benefits. The salary will be commensurate with experience of the candidate and will follow University of Alberta policies (http://www.postdoc.ualberta.ca/PostdocPolicies.aspx).Applicants should have recently completed (no more than five years before the beginning of their appointment), or be in final stages of finishing their Ph.D degree (so that the Ph.D degree will be entirely completed upon the beginning of their appointment).The application should include (1) a research statement/plan (ca. 2 pages) outlining past experience and current research interests and, in particular, how these align with and contribute towards the general goals of our SSHRC project,(2) a Curriculum Vitae (including a List of Publications), and (3) one to three academic writing samples relevant to our project as well as the research statement. In addition, (4) Letters of Recommendation should be sent directly (to Dr. Antti Arppe: arppe@ualberta.ca) by three referees. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Antti Arppe to discuss their research plan.Applications and any inquiries  should be sent by electronic mail to Dr. Antti Arppe (arppe@ualberta.ca). Further, up-to-date information on this position can be found at: http://altlab.artsrn.ualberta.ca/?page_id=306Review of applications will begin on January 26, 2015, and will continue until the position is filled.The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons.

EL Publishing

Back in July, a new publishing initiative was launched called "EL Publishing" (www.elpublishing.org), by founding editors Peter K. Austin, David Nathan, and Julia Sallabank, which is a free online open access publications platform that will publish a fully blind-refereed journal (Language Documentation and Description), multimedia publications, and a new monograph series, for which they have a 5 year commitment of support from CIPL, the International Committee of Linguists.The journal, multimedia and monographs will deal with the theory and practice of language documentation, language description, sociolinguistics and language policy, and language revitalisation. They will also be encouraging new and innovative forms of publication in these areas.  All publications are free to download under a CC-BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial) licence and are published at no cost to authors. They will continue to publish in print form at a low cost as well for readers who prefer paper publications or have limited internet access.The website at www.elpublishing.org contains the latest volume of Language Documentation and Description (LDD 12 -- a special issue on documentation and archiving), an app dealing with Khoi-san languages, and the complete back catalogue of LDD volumes 1 to 11.In this venture, David, Julia and Peter are joined by Consulting Editors Gerrit Dimmendaal, Lenore Grenoble, Jeff Good, and Tony Woodbury, and an international Editorial Advisory Board of leading scholars in endangered languages research.Have a look at the website and download the papers and app, but even more importantly, please let your colleagues and students know that EL Publishing exists and is an outlet for top quality fully peer reviewed publication of articles, multimedia and monographs. In order to keep the quality of the work we publish at a high level we need as many good submissions as possible, and we rely on our friends and colleagues such as you to help us spread the word.You can also follow EL Publishing on Facebook (E L Publishing) and Twitter (E_L_Publishing).If you have any questions about this please get in touch at editors@elpublishing.org for submissions and publishing information or info@elpublishing.org for general enquiries.(this post is a lightly edited version of an email from Peter Austin to the CELP listserv)

LSA Pre-registration reminder

The deadline for LSA preregistration is Friday, December 19, 2014.  If you do not preregister, you will pay a higher fee for onsite registration.SSILA 2015 attendees who are LSA members can log in to the LSA website (http://www.linguisticsociety.org) and register as a member (by clicking on the “Register for meeting” button on the Annual Meeting web page).  If you are an LSA member, you should NOT use any coupon codes, since you willl automatically get the member preregistration discount.Attendees who are not LSA members should go to the Annual Meeting web page (http://www.linguisticsociety.org/event/lsa-2015-annual-meeting), click on the “Register for meeting” button, and select nonmember regular or nonmember student according to your status.   At checkout, you will have an opportunity to enter a coupon code:S-SOC15REGULAR for nonstudent attendeesandS-SOC15STUDENT for student attendees.The coupon code will provide you with member-level discount.

Annual Meeting updates from LSA

LSA has sent these updates for the Annual Meeting, with reminders of some important deadlines:Hotel Accommodations -- Overflow Hotel at Portland Marriott City CenterThe room block at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower has sold out.  An overflow room block has been established at the nearby Portland Marriott City Center.  The rate is $139/night.  Reservations must be made by December 23, 2014.  Reserve online or telephone 1-888-236-2427 and refer to the Linguistic Society of America rate.Meeting Preregistration Deadline:  December 19The deadline for preregistration for the Annual Meeting is Friday, December 19.  Attendees who do not register by the deadline will face substantially higher onsite registration fees.To register for the Meeting, click on the "Register for Meeting" button at the top of the Annual Meeting web page.  LSA members should log in to the website first in order to obtain the member registration discount.  A downloadable hard copy registration form is available here.Meeting ScheduleAn online meeting schedule is available by clicking on the "Schedule" tab on the Annual Meeting web page.  LSA members who are logged in to the website will see a "Personal Schedule" tab where they can create a customized meeting schedule including only those sessions they wish to attend.General information about the meeting, including office hours, committee meetings, and more, is available here, and schedules for the Sister Societies here.  The most up-to-date SSILA schedule is here.If you have questions about LSA, please contactDavid RobinsonDirector of Membership and MeetingsLinguistic Society of America1325 18th Street, NW  Suite 211Washington, DC 20036-6501202-835-1714Fax: 202-835-1717www.lsadc.org

Position at University of Oklahoma

Assistant/Associate Curator of Native American Languages, 
or Native American Linguistics Assistant/Associate Professor of Anthropology 
The University of Oklahoma’s Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and the Department of Anthropology seek an Assistant/Associate Curator of Native American Languages and an Assistant/Associate Professor of Anthropology for a tenure track position. This is a nine-month joint appointment between the department and the museum. We seek a scholar holding a Ph.D. in linguistics or linguistic anthropology with a research specialization in Native American languages. Candidates should demonstrate a willingness to engage in outreach to Native communities in Oklahoma, including collaborative research and community participation in museum exhibits and programs. The holder of this position will develop language documentation and maintenance projects with Oklahoma’s Native communities and must possess a willingness to seek external funding for outreach and research, as well as maintaining the current language collection in the museum. In the role of curator, the successful candidate will utilize traditional and digital archival techniques to establish a public collection of American Indian language data. It is expected that the candidate will have strong abilities in digital multi-media technology and its use in linguistic research, outreach, and pedagogy. Scholars working on combating language endangerment and the development of language maintenance strategies, as well as those with experience in fieldwork-based descriptive linguistics are encouraged to apply.The state of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma have excellent resources for work on American Indian languages. The state is home to over forty American Indian languages representing at least six families. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is a large and comprehensive center for research and public programs. Housed in a state-of-the-art facility and winner of the National Medal for Museums, the museum maintains a strong commitment to community service and has an established tradition of working with American Indian communities. Its Divisions of Ethnology and Archaeology hold significant collections of American Indian material culture. The museum has 10 active curators who are leading researchers in their disciplines. The Department of Anthropology is a Ph.D.-granting program with a focus on American Indian studies. The department offers a full and growing curriculum of instruction in American Indian languages, with classes offered in Choctaw, Kiowa, Cherokee, and Creek/Seminole. The successful candidate will join a department that includes linguistic anthropologists and Native language instructors. The campus is also home to a strong Native American Studies program, a rich Western history archive, and a large Native American student body.Consideration of applications will begin December 31, 2014 and the position will remain open until filled. OU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should send a letter detailing research interests and teaching experience, vita, and contact information for three references by email in PDF format to search committee Chairs Dr. Dan Swan (dswanou.edu) and Dr. Sean O’Neill (seanoneillou.edu) and Managerial Associate, Misty Wilson (Anthropologyou.edu).

 

President Emmon Bach

SSILA President Emmon Bach passed away November 28, 2014, at his home in Oxford.  His funeral will take place at 11.15 on Saturday, 13 December at St John's Chapel, Oxford Crematorium, Bayswater Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 9RZ.Some of the many remembrances of his life appearing in online communities are these:http://www.umass.edu/linguist/index.phpu mass linkhttp://www.lagb.org.uk/forum/3164720Linguistics Assn. of Great Britainhttp://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=16230Language Log by Barbara Parteeemmonbach.infoby Jim Blevinshttp://www.ling-phil.ox.ac.uk/index.php?section=1Oxford U, by Martin Maiden 

2nd International Conference on Mesoamerican Linguistics

We invite abstracts for papers and panels from all areas related to the languages ofMesoamerica, including both the indigenous languages and Mesoamerican Spanish, to besubmitted to the Second Mesoamerican Linguistics Conference, to be held at CaliforniaState University, Los Angeles on March 6-7, 2015. We are especially interested inproposals concerning community-based language documentation and revitalizationefforts for the indigenous languages of Mesoamerica.Submission guidelines:1. Papers may be delivered in English or Spanish. Authors may submit up to twoabstracts, one individual and one jointly authored. Presentation time for papers will be 20minutes plus 10 minutes for discussion.2. The abstract must be no more than one page in length, single-spaced in 12-point font.3. To preserve anonymity during the review process, authors should not include theirnames or otherwise reveal their identities anywhere in the abstract.4. Please specify the title of the paper, area of research, name, academic affiliation andemail in the accompanying email.5. Please send submissions as a Word or PDF file to both conference organizers: NatalieOperstein (noperstein@fullerton.edu) and Aaron Sonnenschein(asonnen@exchange.calstatela.edu).Important dates:Deadline for panel proposals: 15 November 2014Deadline for abstracts: 15 December 2014Notification: 1 January 2015Conference dates: 6-7 March 2015

WAIL 2015 Call for Papers

The Linguistics Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara, announces its 18th Annual Workshop on American Indigenous Languages (WAIL), which provides a forum for the discussion of theoretical, descriptive, and practical studies of the indigenous languages of the Americas.The keynote speaker for this year will be Patience L. Epps (University of Texas, Austin).The conference will be held May 8th – 9th, 2015Deadline for receipt of abstracts: February 15, 2015WAIL2015_CallForPapers