Speaker of rare language loved golf (fwd link)

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Speaker of rare language loved golf

Served in the Second World War as a pilot, soon after becoming flying instructor

BY SUSAN LAZARUK, THE PROVINCE SEPTEMBER 20, 2009
British Columbia, CA

FRED SHAUGHNESSY: 1919-2009

Fred Shaughnessy, one of the last remaining estimated 200 speakers of the native
language Kwak'wala on Vancouver Island, has died at age 90.

Shaughnessy, who learned to speak Kwak'wala in Alert Bay on Cormorant Island
east of Port McNeil on Vancouver Island where he was raised, retained it over
the years even as he lived off-reserve.

"He wasn't taught any English when he was a child," said cousin George
Shaughnessy, chief of Wakeman Sound.

Fred Shaughnessy had an excellent command of the language, which is spoken by
only four per cent of the Kwakwaka'wakw, or speakers of Kwak'wala, and none are
under age 35. He was one of the few speakers who still knew the historic
pronunciation.

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http://www.theprovince.com/life/Speaker+rare+language+loved+golf/2013511/story.html