When a language dies, why should we care? Don Kulick, a distinguished University Professor of Anthropology at Uppsala University and head of the ENGAGING VULNERABILITY research program talks to us in episode 46 about the death of languages. We delve into his book, A Death in the Rainforest: how a language and a way of life came to an end in Papua New Guinea, discusses his work in the tiny village of Gapun in New Guinea to document the death of the native language and why that matters. We explore the evolution of anthropological fieldwork from historical methods to current approaches, benefits of learning about other cultures, and the importance of documenting dying languages. You're going to love it!
His book:
A Death in the Rainforest: how a language and a way of life came to an end in Papua New Guinea
Notes:
•🌏 **Anthropology and Linguistics**
•Dr. Kulick’s journey into anthropology from linguistics.
•Interest in people who speak different languages.
•Multilingualism among groups in Papua New Guinea.
•Impact of language on worldview and self-presentation.
•👥 **Evolution of Anthropology**
•Comparison to Margaret Mead's fieldwork methods.
•Emphasis on understanding specific people and cultures.
•Benefits of learning about other cultures.
•💬 **Language Evolution in Papua New Guinea**
•Transition to speaking Tok Pisin from traditional languages.
•Tok Pisin as a pigeon language with English-based words.
•Challenges of understanding and communication.
•📖 **Language and Culture Preservation**
•Importance of documenting dying languages like Tie Up.
•Socialization of children through native languages.
•Observations on cultural differences and understanding.
•🤔 **Cultural Exchange and Understanding**
•Value of experiencing different cultures and languages.
•Encouragement to step out of personal bubbles for understanding.
•Appreciation of diversity and differences in people.
•🌍 **Global Community Engagement**
•Call for thoughts on experiencing different cultures.
•Importance of learning languages and diverse worldviews.
•Community engagement for broader conversations.
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