Berkeley conference revives dying languages (fwd link)

[phil cash cash]

Berkeley conference revives dying languages

Patricia Yollin, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, June 15, 2008

Jacob Gutierrez is 59, but it was only four years ago that he encountered
Tongva, the native tongue of his ancestors.

"The first time that you hear your indigenous language, you swell up and feel
like crying," he said. "It's in your DNA. It's vital for your traditions and
culture."

He was among 65 participants at UC Berkeley's seven-day "Breath of Life"
conference, a biennial event that ended Saturday. They represented about two
dozen of the state's 80 to 100 "sleeping" or endangered California Indian
languages, which they are struggling to revitalize.

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/14/BAA7119G67.DTL