An enthralling tour around the rarest languages in the world.
From the whistling languages of La Gomera in the Canary Islands and the Hmong people in East and Southeast Asia, to the wars and clashes in Sri Lanka and the conservation efforts in Hawaii and New Zealand, Rare Tongues draws attention to how language and culture are becoming increasingly homogenous, and what we risk losing as a result.
In Rare Tongues, linguist and writer Lorna Gibb explores the history of these languages, the cultures they belong to and the tales they tell. The languages, and the efforts being made to preserve them, offer us a glimpse into what we can learn from each of them, and what they teach us about our planet, about medicine, about indigenous culture and tradition, even the history of all mankind.
At once entertaining and informative, Lorna Gibb makes a compelling case for the preservation of the rich linguistic diversity of our world, and expertly shows why it matters for us all.
By:
Lorna Gibb
Imprint: Atlantic Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Main
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 153mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 560g
ISBN: 9781838951771
ISBN 10: 1838951776
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 27 May 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
ELT Advanced
,
Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
1: Latin and How Languages Develop 2: Khoisan - The Languages with Many Sounds 3: Lost and Reclaimed 63 4: Languages and Ecosystems: An Environmentalist Vocabulary 5: Plains Sign Talk - The Sound of Silence 6: Whistled Languages 7: Rare Tongues in Europe: Sicilian, Corsican, Catalan, 8: Language in Conflict 9: Language Revival 10: Dare to Speak Your Language: Guarani and Gaelic Conclusion: Conclusion Appendix: A Note on Some Linguistic Terms and the Idea of Linguistic Universality
Lorna Gibb was born and grew up in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire. She has a PhD in Linguistics from Edinburgh as well as a BA and MA from the University of London. She's currently an Associate Professor at the University of Stirling but has worked at universities in London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Qatar, Monaco and France. Before going to University, Lorna worked as a professional dancer in Italy and the UK. She also worked in the City of London as an IT programme manager and consultant, for several years, and as a journalist. Together, with her husband Alan, she's lived and worked in Qatar, Spain, Italy and the UK, and before she was married, she lived in Austria and the Netherlands for a few months, as well as Paris and Helsinki for a year. She is childless and has written about the reasons for this in a recent book (Childless Voices, Granta). Lorna has four cats, a Bengal, a rescue Khau Manee and two adoptees from Dubai.
Reviews for Rare Tongues: The Secret Stories of Hidden Languages
The most delightful parts of Rare Tongues are the most eccentric... extremely interesting. * The Scotsman * Any book such as this linguistic tour of some of the world'sexotic, hidden and endangered languages is to be welcomed with sobbing gratitude. * The Spectator *
