K. David Harrison

K. David Harrison (born 1966) is a Canadian-American linguist, anthropologist, author, filmmaker, and activist for the documentation and preservation of endangered languages.

K. David Harrison
Born1966 (age 54–55)
Ponoka, Alberta, Canada
NationalityAmerican-Canadian
CitizenshipUnited States, Canada
Academic background
Alma mater
ThesisTopics in the Phonology and Morphology of Tuvan (2000)
Doctoral advisorStephen R. Anderson
Academic work
DisciplineLinguist
Sub-disciplineEnvironmental Linguistics
Notable works
  • When Languages Die: The Extinction of the World's Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge
  • The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World's Most Endangered Languages
  • Subject of the 2008 documentary The Linguists[1]
Websitewww.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/dharris2/index.php

Biography

Harrison has done documentary field work on endangered languages in Siberia and Mongolia including Tuvan, Tsengel Tuvan, Tofa, Chulym, Monchak, Munda, and also in Paraguay, Chile, Papua New Guinea, India, Micronesia and Vanuatu. He specializes in phonology, morphology, and in the study of language endangerment, extinction and revitalization, digital lexicography, and environmental linguistics.[2] He is a Professor of Linguistics teaching at Swarthmore College an Explorer at the National Geographic Society and a fellow of The Explorers Club. He serves as an Honorary Research Associate at the New York Botanical Garden. His early career research focused on the Turkic languages of central Siberia and western Mongolia. In 2006, Harrison created the first online "Talking Dictionary" a platform that has since expanded to cover 140+ indigenous languages. In 2007–2013, he co-directed the Enduring Voices Project at the National Geographic Society. In 2007, Harrison created the concept of "Language Hotspots", and published the first language hotspots list and map in National Geographic Magazine, a collaboration with linguist Gregory Anderson of the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. He co-starred in Ironbound Films' Emmy-nominated 2008 documentary film The Linguists.[1] He serves as director of research for the non-profit Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, and has served on the boards of 7,000 Languages, and BeeLine Reader Inc. Harrison's current research is on digital lexicography (creating Talking Dictionaries), and Environmental Linguistics in locations such as Vanuatu, Fiji, Mexico, and Siberia.[3][4]

Awards and honors

References
  1. David and Greg,"The Linguists", National Science Foundation under Grants No.0452417 and 0438121 and the Nonprofit Media Group.
  2. K. David Harrison, Ph.D., Swarthmore College Linguistics, accessed May 2010
  3. K. David Harrison, Ph.D., Swarthmore College Linguistics: Research, accessed May 2010
  4. Brooks, Anthony (25 January 2008). "'The Linguists': Saving the World's Languages". WBUR. Retrieved 22 February 2009.

As editor
  • Davis, Wade and K. David Harrison (2008) Book of Peoples of the World: A Guide to Cultures, National Geographic, (2nd edition).
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