Project ALOT 2015 Update/Navajo Goal/Endangered Languages #13 & #14/ICLDC Trip

 

Happy New Year!

 

OK, that was 30 days ago! Anyway, now it’s (mostly) a new year, some language projects are wrapping up as other ones are beginning, travel plans and language conferences are on the horizon, and I’m now beginning to ramp up my networking, advocacy, reviews, videos, and updates! Plus, more languages in 2015!

 

So without further ado, here’s what’s going on so far:

 

New Languages!

 

January’s language (lucky #13!!) happens to be

 

 

CHEROKEE

  

And #14 (theoretically beginning tomorrow) will be 

 

MAORI

 

 

News on old languages

(Aren’t all languages pretty old? Hmm….)

 

First up, as of the end of last year, I finished up NAVAJO (woo hoo!) with just over the goal of 1200 words (I’m still trying to figure out exactly how many I’ll be counting as “words,” including set phrases and all). I’ll have a write-up on that this coming week (and eventually a word list--more tedious than I first anticipated). I’m really excited to talk about the many resources I’ve come across, and I’m still learning of new projects out there, including a method in the works that I really wish had been available last year. I'll also be mentioning the difficulties I had, not just with the language, but also with the lack (and, surprisingly, abundance) of good resources.   

 

Also, as of tonight, I’m planning to wrap up MANX! More on that in the coming weeks!

 

Travel plans

In late February, I’ll be going to Hawaii for a few days for a little fun & sun, to see old friends and meet new ones (friends of friends in the area—my first “friend blind date” in a while), to possibly work on my Hawaiian, and—the main purpose of the trip—to attend the 4^th International Conference on Language Documentation & Conservation! Two years ago, I attended the 3^rd conference and it was amazing! I met so many people, including a few big names in the industry, and I reconnected with a number of people I’d met at other conferences. And there were so many great panels on so many endangered languages--very eye-opening. My goal will be to network as usual, but also to learn more ways languages are being kept alive. And, time permitting, consuming my weight in Mai Tais.

 

More changes to come

And there are some other changes and updates coming this week: revamping the blog, more Facebook posts, and a few changes overall to help separate some duties. I’m very excited to go from mostly talking to mainly doing!

 

Stay tuned for more!