Linguistic anthropologist Christine Schreyer notes that people today have begun learning to speak invented languages because, unlike endangered natural languages, people can learn them quickly. These invented languages, including Elvish, Na’vi, and Klingon, are spoken by fans of the movies and shows they were invented for. The resulting fandoms create opportunities to teach the languages to others by making online dictionaries, posting tutorials, and holding events to help communities become fluent. Schreyer believes that these models can aid in the popularisation of endangered “natural” languages. Read full article here
Research
Researcher uses AI to make texts that are thousands of years old readable
The Gilgamesh Epic, the oldest work of world literature, has been brought back to life by LMU researchers in the Electronic Babylonian Literature project. Using their new Fragmentarium tool, they have discovered hundreds of manuscripts, including the most recent tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic which dates from 130 BC – thousands of years after the earliest known version. This shows how highly valued the Epic was, even at a late period. With the public release of the Fragmentarium, anyone can now explore the thousands of cuneiform fragments and explore the ancient Babylonian literature. Read full article here
Merv
March 12, 2023
