In California, Saving a Language That Predates Spanish and English (fwd link)

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In California, Saving a Language That Predates Spanish and English

By NORIMITSU ONISHI<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/norimitsu_onishi/index.html>APRIL
12, 2014




EUREKA, Calif. — Sitting in a circle in a classroom at Eureka High School
here, Tenayah Norris and a half-dozen other students were learning how to
express direction in Yurok, a Native American language that nearly became
extinct a few years ago. Growing up on the Yurok reservation about 90
minutes north of here, she sometimes heard her grandfather speak it to his
contemporaries, and she studied it, on and off, in the community.

“But it’s starting to click faster for me now,” said Tenayah, a 15-year-old
with pink hair and a bright smile. “I’m glad it’s here — otherwise, I’d
have to go somewhere else to take classes.”

Her goal is to go to college and eventually teach the language. “We need
more fluent speakers,” she said. “We’re getting more, which would be nice
to speed up.”

Eureka began offering Yurok two years ago, bringing to four the number of
public high schools in Northern California where the language is taught.
Two public elementary schools also offer it, including one as part of a new
immersion program.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/us/in-california-saving-a-language-that-predates-spanish-and-english.html?hpw&rref=us&_r=0
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