Last

On my way back to Wisconsin, I listed to a set of CDs on the history of ancient Rome. As part of the historical context of the founding of the city, the lecturer discussed the Etruscan culture in that part of Italy. The Etruscans left behind all sorts of artifacts and a certain amount can be learned about the way they lived from those. In particular, their tombs have all sorts of carved representations from which scholars try to draw conclusions. One tragedy is that, although th Etruscans also left behind texts, no one can read the language. So, at least for now, one of the more obvious ways of learning how they lived, what they thought and so on is cut off from us.

I thought of this when I saw this story on the BBC:

Last Alaska language speaker dies

Ms Jones dedicated much of her life to preserving the Eyak language

A woman believed to be the last native speaker of the Eyak language in the north-western US state of Alaska has died at the age of 89.

Marie Smith Jones was a champion of indigenous rights and conservation. She died at her home in Anchorage.

She helped the University of Alaska compile an Eyak dictionary, so that future generations would have the chance to resurrect it.

Nearly 20 other native Alaskan languages are at risk of disappearing.

Some people may think that it really doesn't matter if the language of a few hundred Alaskan groups disappear. After all, what could they possibly know that we need to know?

Well, if we can't understand their language, we won't find out, will we? Mrs. Jones has seven surviving children, but none of them learned their mother's language because the idea was that they should only learn English. I am sure that they need to know English. But what a shame they didn't also learn their own ancestral language, too.

Mama and I were recently discussing the problems that will arise in another generation when people no longer can read cursive writing. Why should schools waste valuable time teaching that when everything will be on computer and everyone will use a keyboard?

Perhaps because up until a few generations back, EVERYTHING was written. And even now, many or even most personal things are written. If you cannot read English cursive writing, you will not be able to read the things your grandparents wrote in letters to one another, or decipher those tell-tale remarks in old yearbooks. It is not some obscure Alaskan memories that will be lost -- it will be your own family memory.

So a moment of silence for the passing not only of a person but of a living language. And take a moment to realize how easily vital links to our own people might disappear in just one generation.