DSpace Collection:

Lecture discusses world language preservation

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Lecture discusses world language preservation Authors: Connolly, Sean Abstract: Article published in The Dartmouth featuring Mark Turin and the World Oral Literature Project. Description: .pdf of screenshots from online article. URL of source website accessed 04/03/2013: . Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Our language in your hands Podcast with La Trobe University

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Our language in your hands Podcast with La Trobe University Authors: Smith, Matt; Turin, Mark Abstract: A La Trobe University podcast. Description: Matt Smith of La Trobe University interviews Dr Mark Turin of the World Oral Literature Project. Here they discuss the BBC Radio 4 series 'Our language in your hands' and Turin's background in the language of Thangmi. A full transcript of this interview can be found at .

Yale anthropologist hosts 'Our Language in Your Hands' on BBC

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Yale anthropologist hosts 'Our Language in Your Hands' on BBC Authors: Baker, Dorie; Yale News Abstract: In “Our Language in Your Hands,” a series of three programs being aired on BBC radio, Yale anthropologist and linguist Mark Turin conducts a tour of endangered languages in three very different locales. Description: PDF of online article. Hosted on Yale News website (accessed 03/01/2013). Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Our Language in Your Hands: New York City

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Our Language in Your Hands: New York City Authors: Turin, Mark Abstract: This BBC Radio 4 series sees anthropologist and linguist Mark Turin visit Nepal, South Africa and New York to explore the fate of the world's endangered languages. In this final episode, Mark travels to New York City where a multitude of languages are spoken. Description: 'New York has long been a city of immigrants, and as a result of waves of immigration, language experts describe it as the most linguistically dense city on earth. Mark Turin travels to the Big Apple to track the many languages of New York. He travels the 7 train, designated a US Heritage Trail, as it rattles its way from Flushing to the heart of Manhattan, passing through areas where Korean, Bengali and Spanish are the languages spoken on the street. He meets the linguists who are tracking New York's many languages and hears from those who believe that the US needs to promote the English language ahead of all others. His journey ends with a story of linguistic rebirth as he discovers how the Yiddish language, once in decline, has attracted a new generation of speakers.'

Our Language in Your Hands: South Africa

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Our Language in Your Hands: South Africa Authors: Turin, Mark Abstract: This BBC Radio 4 series sees anthropologist and linguist Mark Turin visit Nepal, South Africa and New York to explore the fate of the world's endangered languages. In this second episode, Mark travels to South Africa, where he gets to grips with the country's complex language politics and policies. Description: 'Anthropologist and linguist Dr Mark Turin travels to South Africa to get to grips with the country's complex language politics and policies. Until the mid 1990s, there were just two official languages, English and Afrikaans, while other indigenous African languages were sidelined. Today the situation is different, with eleven official languages recognized by the Constitution of South Africa as having equal value and importance. But what does that mean in reality? How can so many languages operate alongside each other in Parliament? And can they all have equal weight? Mark Turin visits a Soweto school to find out which languages children learn and what they speak in the playground, and talks to multilingual journalists and writers about the importance of their mother tongues. He meets Afrikaans speakers to learn whether their language can shake off its associations with the racist apartheid regime, and visits Cape Town to see the South African Parliament in action and meet the interpreters that make it work. Mark Turin is used to heated discussions when it comes to politics and language, and in South Africa he finds his greatest challenge.' Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Our Language in Your Hands: Nepal

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Our Language in Your Hands: Nepal Authors: Turin, Mark Abstract: This BBC Radio 4 series sees anthropologist and linguist Mark Turin visit Nepal, South Africa and New York to explore the fate of the world's endangered languages. In this first episode, Mark travels to Eastern Nepal, where Thangmi is now spoken by only a few thousand people. Description: 'Landlocked and mountainous Nepal is home to over 100 languages, many of which are now endangered. Languages spoken for generations may soon be extinct. Anthropologist and linguist Dr Mark Turin has spent years talking to the last speakers of languages under threat, and now he returns to the Himalayas to show us how communities are preserving and even reviving their speech forms, as well as what will be lost when languages die out. Mark travels to the mountains of Eastern Nepal, where Thangmi is now spoken by only a few thousand people. Like many other languages that are at risk, Thangmi is a mine of unique indigenous terms for flora and fauna that have medical and ritual value. When people switch to speaking another language, traditional knowledge about man's place in nature falls into disuse. With the death of the last speaker, these unique ways of seeing the world can be lost forever. Mark has lived with the Thangmi community for years, and speaks their ancestral language. Thangmi, whose speakers live in a highly mountainous region, has four distinct verbs that equate with the English verb 'to come', including yusa 'to come from above (down the mountain)' and wangsa 'to come from below (or up the mountain)'. Languages, like species, adapt to and reflect their environment. Through these windows into the world of Thangmi speakers, and in discussions with language activists and educators across Nepal, Mark explores the enduring relationship between language, culture and identity and explains why it's so critical for linguists to work with indigenous communities to document and protect these vanishing voices before they disappear without record.' Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

A New Voice for Dying Languages: ABC Radio National interview with Mark Turin

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: A New Voice for Dying Languages: ABC Radio National interview with Mark Turin Authors: Anon. Abstract: Yes, the overall picture for indigenous language preservation is pretty bleak. But some highly driven people using modern technology are refusing to let some languages die. We’ll hear about the work of the World Oral Literature Project, which started in Nepal. And also Miromaa—a software program developed in Newcastle which is being used by indigenous communities around the world. For the whole programme, see URL accessed week of 12/03/2012: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/futuretense/a-new-voice-for-22dying22-languages/3886306 Description: .mp3 and .wav versions of audio file; extract from radio programme; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Preserving Endangered Languages and Oral Literature

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Preserving Endangered Languages and Oral Literature Authors: Turin, Mark Abstract: Research Scholar Mark Turin discusses his work with the World Oral Literature Project, which seeks to collect, preserve and disseminate records of rare languages and oral traditions that are becoming extinct. He also talks about his Digital Himalaya Project, which is specifically concerned with the languages and cultures of the indigenous people of Nepal and the broader Himalayan region, including ethnic groups in Bhutan, India, and Tibet. Both projects aim to digitize and catalogue records of diverse materials, from audio and video tapes to written reports and maps, that already exist in libraries, universities and other collections around the world. Description: In this audio podcast “Preserving Endangered Languages and Oral Traditions” Mark Turin describes his research and the projects he has initiated to record endangered languages; to preserve and digitize records that already exist; and to disseminate such archival recordings online. This podcast is linked to the article '‘Collect, protect, connect’: Yale researcher aims to rescue disappearing languages' from Yale News dated 26th February 2012 - URL accessed on 27th February 2012 at http://news.yale.edu/2012/02/26/collect-protect-connect-yale-researcher-aims-rescue-disappearing-languages; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Collect: Protect: Connect - The World Oral Literature Project

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Collect: Protect: Connect - The World Oral Literature Project Authors: Wheeler, Claire; Wilkinson, Eleanor; Turin, Mark Abstract: An article published February 2012 by the International Society for Folk Narrative Research (ISFNR). URL accessed week commencing 13/02/2012 http://www.isfnr.org/index2.html. Details the aims and objectives of the World Oral Literature Project. Description: A PDF of the published article Collect: Protect: Connect - The World Oral Literature Project; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

頼れる記録の器求めて

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Title: 頼れる記録の器求めて Authors: Naoki Kimura Abstract: Article featuring the World Oral Literature, published in Asahi Shimbun newspaper in Japan, Jan 2012. Rough translation to English: Reliable record-keeping: is digital archiving the answer? In Weimar, central Germany (population 60,000), a fire broke out one night in 2004. It started in the Anna Maria Library, a UNESCO World Heritage Library founded in the 18th Century. Among the 50,000 books burnt were rare volumes and manuscripts by Copernicus. 28,000 books were partially burnt and are under restoration. The weather is very cold at Cambridge University, where a female member of staff is quietly working at a computer in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. A conservation project for endangered oral culture was founded three years ago. Fieldworkers around the globe are sending materials (audio and film recordings and electronic data) to the project, where the staff archive them to a geographical map on the website. Accessing anthropological cultural data used to mean a visit to the host country, because archives could not be placed on the internet, so were put in a drawer and forgotten about. “Losing traditional culture means losing one’s identity. Digital recording helps to save historical records and makes our jobs easier’, says Professor Alan Macfarlane, University of Cambridge. “We have been able to record materials twice as fast using digital methods. Ten years since the beginning of digital recording, we are targeting over 100 cultures to be preserved in this way. The communities themselves are able to see the recordings and pass these historical records to the next generation.” As demonstrated by the fire in the Anna Maria Library, the preservation of books and film in physical form is unreliable. UNESCO reported that in the 20th Century, over 100 libraries were damaged or destroyed by fire or war. This situation has recently been improved by digital recording. Immediately after the Kobe earthquake, Mori (the property magnate) sent his urban research group to Kobe to film and survey the land using GPS, creating a precise record of the damage just nine hours after the quake. The huge amount of data passed on to the emergency services included statistics on damage to buildings, refugee centres, and food and dust mask stores. The data remains useful long after its collection. The paradox of museums is that, when you are collecting data, you don’t know what will be most important. Professor Hirose, Tokyo University, says “The way that digital recording can keep everything dispels the paradox of the museum. Material deemed unimportant and not recorded later becomes important, and through digital recording everything can be kept”. Professor Takano of the National Data Research Group created the search engine SOU in 2006 that uses a single word to find information, using searches in the same way as a human brain: one word cascades to multiple links and connections in the search, so that individually created records connect to each other. National cultural monuments or old books and art gallery collections can be viewed on a single database. For example, using the search term ‘vase’ results in national treasures, books about vases and museum prices displayed on the site. Previously, records were collected and then abandoned. The connections between these records can be surprising. This heightens the interest for the records.” On the other hand, digital recording can also be unreliable. “People are once again considering film as a system for making long-term records. 63,000 cinema films are now stored at the Tokyo National Modern Art Museum film centre”, says the Chief Research, Mr Tochigi. The centre’s warehouse keeps these films under specially controlled atmospheric conditions. The style of digital data filing, recording formats and playback system is changing all the time so one cannot see the previous data, and it is possible to accidently delete it. Digital data should be used as a back-up of the original data and format, rather than a replacement”. At the Anna Maria Library, staff are now scanning and recording their data and transforming it to a digital format, but only since the fire. They are also working to restore original material that has been burnt and to re-collect books that were lost completely. The original book binding and the layout of the book itself (such as photos) are an important part of the author and publisher’s original concept. We conclude that we still cannot tell the best way to keep records. Description: pdf of printed article, pdf of online article and pdf of rough translation. URL of online version, accessed week of 20/01/2012: http://www.asahi.com/culture/news_culture/TKY201201050145.html; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

The MacMillan Report: Guest: Mark Turin

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The MacMillan Report: Guest: Mark Turin Authors: Turin, Mark Abstract: Dr Turin is an anthropologist and a linguist. His scholarly focus is on the Himalayan region, in particular Nepal, northern India, Bhutan and cultural Tibet. His research interests include the documentation of endangered languages and mapping global cultural diversity; language policy and the role of native tongue instruction in education; and issues relating to the electronic access and ownership of anthropological materials from ethnographic museums. We talk with Dr Turin about his involvement in the World Oral Literature Project. Description: .m4v video file; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Digital Anthropology: Projects and Platforms

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Digital Anthropology: Projects and Platforms Authors: Lende, Daniel Abstract: Article published 28 November, 2011. The article reports presentations given at the American Anthropological Association meeting. The article includes a review of Dr Mark Turin's presentation, entitled: 'Multimedia Archives for Anthropology of the Himalayan Region'. URL accessed week of 07/12/2011: http://blogs.plos.org/neuroanthropology/2011/11/28/digital-anthropology-projects-and-platforms/ Description: pdf of website text; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

My Year on the Ice

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Title: My Year on the Ice Authors: Leonard, Stephen Pax Abstract: Article published 30 October, 2011, by Stephen Pax Leonard. URL accessed week of 03/11/2011: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/30/life-greenlands-polar-desert?INTCMP=SRCH 'Stephen Pax Leonard spent the last year studying the language of the Arctic Inugguit. He was ready for the months of darkness, brutal cold and finally the all-day light. What he didn't anticipate was his creeping horror at the way the rest of us live' Description: pdf of magazine article; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

From A to B

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Title: From A to B Authors: Ahmed, Akbar; Sisgoreo, Daniel Abstract: Article published 21 October, 2011, featuring Mark Turin's Linguistic Survey of Sikkim. URL accessed week of 24/10/2011: http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/oct/21/b/ Description: pdf of online article; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Letters from the Arctic

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Title: Letters from the Arctic Authors: anon Abstract: Nancy Campbell explains how a residency in Greenland inspired her book 'How to Say "I Love You" in Greenlandic: An Arctic Alphabet'. Copyright: Illustration magazine. Summer 2011, pages 42-45. Description: Magazine article; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

RTÉ Radio 1

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: RTÉ Radio 1 Authors: Anon. Abstract: Dr Mark Turin interviewed about the World Oral Literature Project. Description: MP3 of radio interview; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Collect, protect, connect: documenting the voices of vanishing worlds

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Collect, protect, connect: documenting the voices of vanishing worlds Authors: Anon. Abstract: Dr Mark Turin interviewed about the World Oral Literature Project. Description: PDF of article; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Mind your language! Save dying 100

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Mind your language! Save dying 100 Authors: Mohanty, Basant Kumar Abstract: Article on the World Oral Literature Project and endangered languages in India. Description: PDF of article; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Half of living languages face extinction

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Half of living languages face extinction Authors: Tobin, Lucy Abstract: Article on the work of the World Oral Literature Project in protecting endangered languages. Description: PDF of article; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.

Bid to document endangered languages

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Bid to document endangered languages Authors: Tobin, Lucy Abstract: Article on the work of the World Oral Literature Project. Description: PDF of article; Mark Turin has agreed with the copyright holder the right to host a copy of this piece (whether audio, text or video) on University of Cambridge archives and servers.