The Man Who Preserved a Language

TEACHER AT HEART

       A belated tribute to Richard Dauenhauer who was a force in saving the Alaskan language of Tlingit.  Dauenhauer was a linguist, anthropologist, and former Alaska poet laureate.  The photo shows him speaking in 2013.

       "Dauenhauer, 72, made recording, transcribing and advocating for the Tlingit language his life's work.  He trained a cadre of teachers and translators to continue his efforts.  He sought not just to revive the fast-disappearing  tongue, largely relegated  to the thoughts of a few surviving tribal elders, but to win acceptance for its use."
                   from Jill Leovy's obituary in the Los Angeles Times of Sunday, August 24, 2014