<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple" style="word-wrap:break-word"><div><div id="m_-367491087231576748m_6955369331217708499m_-7049561406966691463mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">[fwd from UTA <span style="color:black">Department of Linguistics And TESOL on behalf of Elliott, A Raymond]</span></p>
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<div><p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Dear Linguistics & TESOL family,</font></font></font></font></span></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">
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<p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">It is with heavy heart that I announce the passing of our esteemed emeritus faculty member, Dr. Jerold A. Edmondson. I was told that Jerry passed peacefully in his sleep yesterday morning,
August 27th, around 9am. Dr. Edmondson's contributions to academia, research, and the community have left an indelible mark that will continue to inspire generations to come.</font></font></font></font></span></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">
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<p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Dr. Edmondson's remarkable journey was one defined by intellectual curiosity, dedication, and a profound commitment to the study of language and culture. After completing his doctoral studies</font></font></font></font></span><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">
in Germanic Linguistics at UCLA</font></font></font></font><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">, he earned</font></font></font></font></span><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"> a Habilitation in General Linguistics from the Technical University Berlin in 1979, serving as an Assistant Professor of English and General Linguistics at the Technical University
Berlin from 1976-1980. H</font></font></font></font><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">e</font></font></font></font></span><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"> then </font></font></font></font><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">
joined our university's faculty, </font></font></font></font></span><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">serving as the founding director of the Linguistics program here, and going on to
</font></font></font></font><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">spend decades shaping the minds of countless students and colleagues alike. His warm demeanor, passion for teaching, and unwavering support for his students made him not just an educator, but a mentor and friend to many.</font></font></font></font></span></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">
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<p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Edmondson pioneered groundbreaking research in the field of linguistics with a particular focus on the documentation, analysis and preservation of indigenous
languages spanning many continents. His seminal work on linguistic typology and documentation has enriched our understanding of the world's diverse languages and their intricate structures. Dr. Edmondson's dedication to preserving endangered languages not
only highlighted his scholarly rigor but also his deep respect for cultural heritage.</font></font></font></font></span></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">
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<p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">As a prolific author, Dr. Edmondson's contributions to linguistic literature have been instrumental in shaping the discourse of the field. His numerous publications, research articles, books,
and monographs, continue to serve as invaluable resources for linguists, researchers, and students worldwide.</font></font></font></font></span></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">
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<p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Dr. Edmondson's kindness and humility resonated with all who had the privilege of knowing him. His willingness to engage in thoughtful conversations and his
eagerness to collaborate showcased his genuine love for academia and his colleagues. I know this to be true from my personal experience with Dr. Edmondson and I will always remember him fondly for the profound impact he had on my own career.</font></font></font></font><span> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Edmondson's family, friends, former students, and colleagues. While we mourn the loss of a remarkable individual, we also celebrate the incredible
life he led and the immeasurable impact he made on the world of linguistics and beyond.</font></font></font></font></span></p><p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">
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<p><span style="color:black"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Details about memorial services and ways to honor Dr. Edmondson's memory will be shared in the coming days.</font></font></font></font></span></p>
My best,<br>Ray Elliott</div><div><div id="m_-367491087231576748m_6955369331217708499m_-7049561406966691463Signature"><div><div id="m_-367491087231576748m_6955369331217708499m_-7049561406966691463divtagdefaultwrapper"><div></div>
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