The Last Speakers

“"The Last Speakers" opens our eyes and hearts to the human realities of language loss. If you plan to read just one book on language this year, make it this one.”—David Crystal, author of" Language Death"

“This wonderful book is really three wonderful books wrapped into one: a world travelogue of languages; a moving personal account of the last speakers of vanishing languages; and a revelation of the knowledge tied to each language. Perhaps you’re among the many people who think, ‘Wouldn’t we better off with just a few major languages? Let those thousands of little local languages disappear.’ After reading this book you’ll know why all those little local languages do matter, and what can be done to save them.”—Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography at UCLA and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Guns, Germs, and Steel" and "Collapse"

"Harrison has found new ways of looking at endangered l