Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York
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- Create Date：2024-03-11 13:21:46
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Ross Perlin
- ISBN：0802162460
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Summary
From the co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance， a captivating portrait of contemporary New York City through six speakers of little-known and overlooked languages， diving into the incredible history of the most linguistically diverse place ever to have existed on the planet。
Half of all 7，000-plus human languages may disappear over the next century and—because many have never been recorded—when they’re gone， it will be forever。 Ross Perlin， a linguist and co-director of the Manhattan-based non-profit Endangered Language Alliance， is racing against time to map little-known languages across the most linguistically diverse city in contemporary New York。 In Language City， Perlin recounts the unique history of immigration that shaped the city， and follows six remarkable yet ordinary speakers of endangered languages deep into their communities to learn how they are maintaining and reviving their languages against overwhelming odds。
Perlin also dives deep into their languages， taking us on a fascinating tour of unusual grammars， rare sounds， and powerful cultural histories from all around the world。 Seke is spoken by 700 people from five ancestral villages in Nepal， a hundred of whom have lived in a single Brooklyn apartment building。 N’ko is a radical new West African writing system now going global in Harlem and the Bronx。 After centuries of colonization and displacement， Lenape， the city’s original Indigenous language and the source of the name Manhattan （“the place where we get bows”）， has just one fluent native speaker， bolstered by a small band of revivalists。 Also profiled in the book are speakers of the Indigenous Mexican language Nahuatl， the Central Asian minority language Wakhi， and the former lingua franca of the Lower East Side， Yiddish。
A century after the anti-immigration Johnson-Reed Act closed America’s doors for decades and on the 400th anniversary of New York’s colonial founding， Perlin raises the alarm about growing political threats and the onslaught of “killer languages” like English and Spanish。 Both remarkable social history and testament to the importance of linguistic diversity， Language City is a joyful and illuminating exploration of a city and the world that made it。
Half of all 7，000-plus human languages may disappear over the next century and—because many have never been recorded—when they’re gone， it will be forever。 Ross Perlin， a linguist and co-director of the Manhattan-based non-profit Endangered Language Alliance， is racing against time to map little-known languages across the most linguistically diverse city in contemporary New York。 In Language City， Perlin recounts the unique history of immigration that shaped the city， and follows six remarkable yet ordinary speakers of endangered languages deep into their communities to learn how they are maintaining and reviving their languages against overwhelming odds。
Perlin also dives deep into their languages， taking us on a fascinating tour of unusual grammars， rare sounds， and powerful cultural histories from all around the world。 Seke is spoken by 700 people from five ancestral villages in Nepal， a hundred of whom have lived in a single Brooklyn apartment building。 N’ko is a radical new West African writing system now going global in Harlem and the Bronx。 After centuries of colonization and displacement， Lenape， the city’s original Indigenous language and the source of the name Manhattan （“the place where we get bows”）， has just one fluent native speaker， bolstered by a small band of revivalists。 Also profiled in the book are speakers of the Indigenous Mexican language Nahuatl， the Central Asian minority language Wakhi， and the former lingua franca of the Lower East Side， Yiddish。
A century after the anti-immigration Johnson-Reed Act closed America’s doors for decades and on the 400th anniversary of New York’s colonial founding， Perlin raises the alarm about growing political threats and the onslaught of “killer languages” like English and Spanish。 Both remarkable social history and testament to the importance of linguistic diversity， Language City is a joyful and illuminating exploration of a city and the world that made it。
Reviews
Zach Johnson
，
My inner linguist snatched this one up from the Denver Library to flip through and give a shot， but ended up reading the whole thing as it's fascinating。 Begins by outlining the history of New York's linguistic diversity （including one of its indigenous languages， Lenape， from which we get Manahátaan - "the place where we get bows"）， then traces the life of six immigrants to the city speaking six endangered languages they are trying to keep alive。The six are Seke （indigenous to Nepal）， Wakhi （Af My inner linguist snatched this one up from the Denver Library to flip through and give a shot， but ended up reading the whole thing as it's fascinating。 Begins by outlining the history of New York's linguistic diversity （including one of its indigenous languages， Lenape， from which we get Manahátaan - "the place where we get bows"）， then traces the life of six immigrants to the city speaking six endangered languages they are trying to keep alive。The six are Seke （indigenous to Nepal）， Wakhi （Afghanistan/Tajikistan）， Yiddish， N'ko （West Africa）， Nahuatl （Mexico）， and the aforementioned Lenape， leading to a fascinating look at both different communities abroad and their sub-communities in NYC。 Straddles the line pretty perfectly of being academic enough for someone sort-of-well-versed in linguistics like me and being accessible enough for someone who knows little-to-nothing about it。 Deserves more attention！SOME HIGHLIGHTSThe first periodical ever printed in Irish was in New York City in 1870s/80s！"。。。a big， strange country recognized my language that I had brought here with me from abroad as an official language，" said a Yiddish speaker immigrating through Ellis Island in its heyday， showing a night-and-day difference of how immigrants were treated back then。。。Unofficial Seke "dhikuti" loan systems for getting around the city's lecherous loan sharks"The word bale in Seke means leg-foot， just as the word yaa means arm-hand， and many other lagnauges also quite reasonably treat human limbs as hard-to-differentiate wholes。"The history of N’ko， and the shift from spoken-only to written languages。Nahautl gives the mainstays of Mexican food practically all of their names， including tlaxcal （taco）。 。。。more
Mohan Vemulapalli
，
It has been known for a while now that New York city is one of the greenest places on the planet simply due to its population density。 In "Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York " Ross Perlin examines a similar phenomenon， that is ， that the Big Apple is actually a very good place to shelter and preserve linguistic diversity。 Focusing on a number of grass roots efforts to preserve seriously endangered languages this book also serves as a very good foundation f It has been known for a while now that New York city is one of the greenest places on the planet simply due to its population density。 In "Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York " Ross Perlin examines a similar phenomenon， that is ， that the Big Apple is actually a very good place to shelter and preserve linguistic diversity。 Focusing on a number of grass roots efforts to preserve seriously endangered languages this book also serves as a very good foundation for understanding both the fundamental concepts and motivations behind language study and preservation。 Additionally， the book provides major insights into the historical forces that resulted in the development of New York's rich multi-ethnic identity。 Readers with even a passing interest in the study of language and / or the New York experience should find something of interest here。Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher， Grove Atlantic， for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review。 。。。more
Roberta G。
，
In this very informative and incredibly comprehensive guide on the languages spoken in New York， a city that thrives thanks to its multicultural milieu， Ross Perlin passionately tells us about some of the languages that are being revived， also in collaboration with ELA （Endangered Languages Alliance）， through the eyes of their own speakers。 Each story/speaker corresponding to a chapter。 I found all the extensive information very interesting and great food for thought for anyone really， not only In this very informative and incredibly comprehensive guide on the languages spoken in New York， a city that thrives thanks to its multicultural milieu， Ross Perlin passionately tells us about some of the languages that are being revived， also in collaboration with ELA （Endangered Languages Alliance）， through the eyes of their own speakers。 Each story/speaker corresponding to a chapter。 I found all the extensive information very interesting and great food for thought for anyone really， not only language enthusiasts like myself， in that language is much more than talking or translating， it has implications on land and property， our relationships， political status。 This quote is particularly enlightening: "When people ask where a language comes from and how old it is， as though it were a person with a birth certificate， it often means that political， historical， and ethnic territorial claims are at stake。" Some parts are slightly too detailed or seem to stray from the topic being addressed in the book， especially the first part that is supposed to serve as a very broad introduction， but still enjoyable。 。。。more
Martin Maenza
，
Grove Atlantic Press provided an early galley for review。I was attracted to this book due to the New York City connection。 It is a city that has always fascinated and called to me。 As far as languages go， English is my native， I took a couple years of Spanish back in high school， and I learned a bit of American Sign Language in college。The first portion of the book is dedicated to the Past。 Looking at the evolution and growth of the city through the lens of the languages spoken where and when wa Grove Atlantic Press provided an early galley for review。I was attracted to this book due to the New York City connection。 It is a city that has always fascinated and called to me。 As far as languages go， English is my native， I took a couple years of Spanish back in high school， and I learned a bit of American Sign Language in college。The first portion of the book is dedicated to the Past。 Looking at the evolution and growth of the city through the lens of the languages spoken where and when was an interesting approach。 It is not something I ever considered for long during my days of studying American history。 But I can very much see how this is an important element in the life of an urban center， and it is something I will keep in mind going forward。The second portion of the book is dedicated to the Present。 The bulk here focuses on a few key languages from the city: Seke， N’ko， Lenape， Nahuatl， Wakhi， and Yiddish。 I knew next to nothing about any of these， so this was very much a learning experience for me。 Perlin's approach is interesting as he presents these along with people who speak the language， giving more personal， narrative stories for the reader to experience。The book ends with a chapter about the future， talking about how restrictions on immigration impact the proliferation and growth of linguistic diversity in our country and cities like New York。 It really makes one think。 I suspect the book will appeal to folks who either want to learn something new or are familiar with one of these six languages and want to get into some of the specifics as they relate to residents and life in New York City。 。。。more
Annie
，
At the time of writing， the current population of New York City is 8。468 million people。 In 2018， 3。1 million of these residents were immigrants。 These 3。1 million—and the millions of immigrants before them， all the way back to the founding of New Amsterdam in 1624—brought their languages with them。 In Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York， linguist Ross Perlin talks about New York City as an unexpected repository for the world’s languages， from the most wide At the time of writing， the current population of New York City is 8。468 million people。 In 2018， 3。1 million of these residents were immigrants。 These 3。1 million—and the millions of immigrants before them， all the way back to the founding of New Amsterdam in 1624—brought their languages with them。 In Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York， linguist Ross Perlin talks about New York City as an unexpected repository for the world’s languages， from the most widely spoken to some of the most rarely spoken。 He highlights the work of staff and volunteers at the Endangered Languages Alliance to record and preserve languages on the rarer end of things。。。Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type。 I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley， for review consideration。 。。。more
Sara
，
This is a marvelous book that does the impossible--it appeals to both the academic and the non-academic。 For the academic and specifically the linguist， it is rich in explanation of a smorgasbord of languages。 I'm guessing many of them will be new to even the most devoted linguistic student。 Perlin is able to talk about language in a way that is fascinating; his enthusiasm for it all shines through。And for the non-linguists there is the sheer joy of getting to know New York City and the enclaves This is a marvelous book that does the impossible--it appeals to both the academic and the non-academic。 For the academic and specifically the linguist， it is rich in explanation of a smorgasbord of languages。 I'm guessing many of them will be new to even the most devoted linguistic student。 Perlin is able to talk about language in a way that is fascinating; his enthusiasm for it all shines through。And for the non-linguists there is the sheer joy of getting to know New York City and the enclaves one finds。 We get to know the people and their lives。 It's like visiting New York City without the traffic jams and cacophonous honking that one finds in much of the more known parts of the city。 It's also the kind of book that readers who love picking up tidbits of random information will find to be a real jewel。 So much to learn， so much to know！Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book。 I'll look forward to seeing it head to the best seller list！ 。。。more
Mlinda
，
This wonderful book begins with a fascinating linguistic history of NYC as a framework for beautifully told stories of six very different individuals who are dedicated to preserving their mother tongues even as they have made successful lives and careers in New York。 None of them are linguists and you don’t have to be one to learn about the interplay of language and culture and the wondrous effect of over 700 languages being spoken in NYC。 One of if not the most interesting and enjoyable non-fi This wonderful book begins with a fascinating linguistic history of NYC as a framework for beautifully told stories of six very different individuals who are dedicated to preserving their mother tongues even as they have made successful lives and careers in New York。 None of them are linguists and you don’t have to be one to learn about the interplay of language and culture and the wondrous effect of over 700 languages being spoken in NYC。 One of if not the most interesting and enjoyable non-fiction books so far this year with the timing of its publication especially prescient given the swirl of controversy and dialogue about immigrants in the U。S。 today。 A must read！ 。。。more
ankteckningar
，
I wish I had this book back when I was a wee linguistic student！ It's filled with interesting descriptions about all kinds of minority languages and the people that try to save them。 Although minority languages was never my niche it is nevertheless a fascinating topic， and an important one at that。 I belive this book will appeal not only to just students of linguistics but to a wide variety of people interested in the richness of the human experience。 I wish I had this book back when I was a wee linguistic student！ It's filled with interesting descriptions about all kinds of minority languages and the people that try to save them。 Although minority languages was never my niche it is nevertheless a fascinating topic， and an important one at that。 I belive this book will appeal not only to just students of linguistics but to a wide variety of people interested in the richness of the human experience。 。。。more
Kerrie A
，
"Half of all 7，000-plus human languages may disappear over the next century and—because many have never been recorded—when they’re gone， it will be forever。 Ross Perlin， a linguist and co-director of the Manhattan-based non-profit Endangered Language Alliance， is racing against time to map little-known languages across the most linguistically diverse city in history: contemporary New York。 In Language City， Perlin recounts the unique history of immigration that shaped the city， and follows six r "Half of all 7，000-plus human languages may disappear over the next century and—because many have never been recorded—when they’re gone， it will be forever。 Ross Perlin， a linguist and co-director of the Manhattan-based non-profit Endangered Language Alliance， is racing against time to map little-known languages across the most linguistically diverse city in history: contemporary New York。 In Language City， Perlin recounts the unique history of immigration that shaped the city， and follows six remarkable yet ordinary speakers of endangered languages deep into their communities to learn how they are maintaining and reviving their languages against overwhelming odds。 Perlin also dives deep into their languages， taking us on a fascinating tour of unusual grammars， rare sounds， and powerful cultural histories from all around the world。"As a linguist myself， this book was fascinating in such a magnificent way。 I have always been enamored with the study of languages， and how languages are representative of a people's culture， traditions， and ultimately their identity。 This phenomenal journey into the ELA based in Manhattan was quite the trip。 It is heartbreaking that so many languages are disappearing。Just 4% of the world now speaks 96% of the world's languages。❤️💔❤️ I think this is one of the coolest books I've ever read。 （I'm a language nerd。 Sue me！）Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy （ARC） in exchange for an honest review！ 。。。more
Geoffrey
，
（Note: I received an advanced ready copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley）I wish that I could use a stronger word than “fascinating，” but that’s what Language City most definitely is - an absorbingly fascinating read that had me hooked within the first few pages。 I think I would have been quite satisfied if the book had consisted only of its first section， which was a history of New York City’s language diversity and a macro overview of some of the many， many， many languages spoken there in th （Note: I received an advanced ready copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley）I wish that I could use a stronger word than “fascinating，” but that’s what Language City most definitely is - an absorbingly fascinating read that had me hooked within the first few pages。 I think I would have been quite satisfied if the book had consisted only of its first section， which was a history of New York City’s language diversity and a macro overview of some of the many， many， many languages spoken there in the present day。 But the book then proceeded to delve down into its micro-level look at the city’s linguistic wealth through the eyes of several women and men working to preserve or revive their respective endangered languages through the aid of the Endangered Language Alliance （of which the author is a co-director）。 Each individual’s respective chapter came packed with their personal histories， deep peeks into the communities that they came from and the New York neighborhoods that they now call home， contextual history in abundance， and of course plenty of information about the specific languages that they’re striving hard to help maintain。 Thanks to its surprisingly expansive subject matter and Perlin’s approachable and thoughtful writing style， I ended up learning far more from Language City than I ever could have possibly expected， and I loved every little bit that I was able to mentally soak up。I genuinely don’t think I’ll be able to look at New York （just an hour or two away from where I live） the same way again。 I hope that this book gives ELA and its impressive work some much-needed exposure and boosted support。 In the meantime， I’ll be happy to recommend it when I can， and trying to get a copy available for the academic library I work in。 This is nonfiction at some of its very best， in my admittedly subjective personal opinion。 There's so much shared here in these pages， and to repeat myself， it's so fascinating - wonderfully， eye-openingly fascinating。 。。。more
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