Reviving Algonquin
January 19th, 2006An article about the revival of Virginia Algonquian for an upcoming film with a significant amount of (subtitled) dialog in the language:
UNC Charlotte linguist restores lost language, culture for ‘The New World’
The revitalization of Virginia Algonquian is likely to have further value beyond the celebrity of being shown to the world in a major motion picture. The production company is turning over the scripts and language CD’s to the descendants of the Powhatan Confederacy, five state-recognized tribes in Virginia. Rudes expects to be working with the tribes on language reclamation programs and is working on a dictionary of Virginia Algonquian with Helen Rountree, an authority on the history of the Powhatan people.
There’s a rather dubious introduction to historical linguistics in there… but even so, it’s cool to see topics like this in the news. Especially since it’s in my neck of the woods!
Looks like we’re getting the same Google Alerts
Have you seen the film? I don’t think it’s reached the Old World yet.
- Nic Dafis @ 20 January 2006Hahah, I guess we are.
Actually I didn’t realize it was coming out so soon. Interesting that this one and “The Apocalypse” or whatever the heck Mr. Gibson is making are coming out in the same year.
Have you ever seen “Black Robe (1991)“? That was a pretty interesting film… until the ending, which sucked (or rather, it didn’t really even end).
But on a linguistic level, anyway, it was cool — there were something like 6 languages spoken by native speakers.
- pat @ 20 January 2006