Endangered Alphabets on Tour

The Endangered Alphabets Project recently held its first exhi­bi­tion at the Champlain Mill in Winooski Vermont. The goal of the project is to record alpha­bets that have disap­peared or are in danger of disap­pearing from common usage. The exhi­bi­tion, sched­uled to travel in the United States and Europe, consists of a set of wood carv­ings of selected alpha­bets. A book describing the alpha­bets and the research and carving process is sched­uled for publi­ca­tion in June.

The project is the work of Tim Brookes, Director of the Professional Writing Program at Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont. Brookes, a British expa­triate, is an essayist and radio commen­tator for National Public Radio and the author of numerous books on a variety of topics.

Project alpha­bets and their home coun­tries or areas include Assyrian Neo-Aramaic (Iran, Iraq and Turkey), Balinese (Indonesia), Bassa Vah (Liberia), Baybayin (Philippines), Bugis (Indonesia), Cherokee (USA), Inuktitut (Canada), Manchu (China), Mandaic (Iran), Khmer (Cambodia), Pauauh Hmong (Southeast Asia), Samaritan (Israel and Palestine) and Tifinagh (Morocco).

Photo “Baybayin” © Tim Brookes

Samoan Language Week Begins May 30

New Zealand has recently begun cele­brating a Samoan Language Week each year, and Australia is joining in for 2010. The week of May 30 through June 5 will involve multiple events in honor of the Samoan language, which is one of the three major languages of New Zealand.

There is even a Facebook page so supporters can provide comments and plan their own related celebrations.

Photo © rook76 — Fotolia.com