American Indians work to preserve their languages (fwd link)

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American Indians work to preserve their languages

* guardian.co.uk,
* Monday June 16 2008

In the Lakota language, a single word expresses the awe and connectedness with
nature that some feel looking at the Northern Lights. In Euchee, the language
makes no distinction between humans and other animals, though it does
differentiate between Euchee people and non-Euchee.

And the Koasati language of Louisiana provides no word for goodbye, since time
is seen as more cyclical than linear. To end a conversation, you would say
something like: "This was good."

More than 300 American-Indian languages flourished in North America at the time
of Columbus, each carrying a unique way of understanding the world.

Access full article below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/16/usa