****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Bringing Our Language Home by Leanne Hinton is both a collection of case studies and a practical handbook for language revitalization from one's cradle to grave.Autobiographical case studies and L. Hinton's own experience, wisdom and knowledge are the heart and soul of this book.The first part (Starting from Zero) is dedicated to the revival of Myaamia and Wampanoag, two languages that were almost totally forgotten. The second part of the book - Learning from the Elders - is about Karuk and Yuchi two languages that were spoken only by the elders, who were the most important source of information (of language and cultural heritage) and the breaking and starting point of language revitalization. The third most extensive part of the book - Family and Communities Working Together - is dedicated to families who use their language at home and, furthermore, they have strong support from total immersion schools and other kinds of programmes which have been put into practice by communities at the local and regional levels. Five languages are covered: Mohawk, Māori, Hawaiian, Anishinaabemowin and Irish (Belfast's Neo-Gaeltacht). The fourth part - Variationson a Theme - consists of two very special, emotional and extremely intimate and delicate autobiographic accounts of Kypriaca and Warlpiri. The the fifth part - Family Language Learning Programs - contains words of advice and useful tips about two revitalization programs (or reverse language shift) The Kawaiisu Language at Home Program and Taic/CNSA of Kawaiisu and Scottish Gaelic, respectively.Finally, in conclusion, L. Hinton answers the most frequent questions and sums up the short manual for everyone who participates in language revitalization of their language(s). Terms such as mother tongue, indigenous language, L 1, or local language can be successfully avoided by just using such simple possessive adjectives "my", "our" ... This usage stands in stark contrast to "otherness" and "other", alienation and all social terms that lead to estrangement, disconnection and oblivion.Leanne Hinton is a great academic, humanist, humanitarian, writer, language leader and language activist who always cares and never gives up. As an editor she gathered together great language activists, leaders, and linguists from all over the world in one very practical, pragmatic, emotional, useful and complex handbook and collection of autobiographic accounts. Personally, I think that all the chapters could be developed into either new manuals or works of art, even novels (especially Chapter 11).
