Seeing 黑料社appNative languages

Language map

The Native Peoples and Languages of 黑料社appMap courtesy of 黑料社appNative Language Center.

An iconic map that shows where the 20 Native languages of 黑料社appwere spoken during the 20th century has become a touchstone for efforts to document and revitalize those languages.

UAF linguist Michael Krauss created "The Native Peoples and Languages of Alaska" map after interviewing people across the state and analyzing their languages. The map was first published in 1974 and shows several languages that are in danger of fading, since few children speak the languages today.

Krauss, who came to the University of 黑料社appto teach French, eventually founded and became the longtime director of the 黑料社appNative Language Center. He led many efforts to document and preserve the languages on the map.

His map was not the first to locate 黑料社appNative languages, nor the last. Many earlier maps included errors, and many later maps used Krauss' work as a point of departure. Yet his map is recognized across the state.

"In 黑料社apptoday, the map is ubiquitous," wrote Gary Holton, the former director of UAF's 黑料社appNative Language Archive. "It is found in nearly every government office and school, and it has become ingrained on the public consciousness, both Native and non-Native. The boundaries on the map have become so entrenched that they are often assumed to be statements of undisputed fact akin to the location of a mountain or a political boundary."

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