Leanne Hinton

I originally started the first edition of this book--which is also excellent, but also quite different. If you are looking more for a history of language reclamation and a look at California languages at one point in time, it is still totally worth a read. I wanted to read about the current status and issues, so this edition (2022) was the better choice for me.

This book is a fascinating look at native California tribes and languages (including those that cross state and national boundaries)--homelands and language families, heritage vs second language speakers, teaching and reclamation efforts and methods, and the work done currently and historically various tribes on their own languages and with linguists (many of whom, now, are natives academically trained and thus can read historic linguistic notation on their own languages). There are several nonprofit groups put together to help with pedagogical sharing and other support, and their efforts also appear here.… (mer)