K. David Harrison is a linguist, anthropologist, and leading specialist in the study of endangered languages. He has done extensive fieldwork in Siberia, Mongolia, Bolivia, India, Vanuatu and Native America. In his book, When Languages Die: The Extinction of the World's Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge (Oxford 2007), Harrison provides a vivid picture of the scientific consequences of language loss. He also depicts the human factor, including moving accounts of his encounters with last speakers in remote corners of the globe.
Harrison co-stars in the documentary film "The Linguists" which premiered at Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews in February 2008, and appeared at film festivals across the country (Boston, Madison, Dallas). The Hollywood Reporter writes: "Indiana Jones' spirit certainly infects the intrepid heroes of 'The Linguists.' These are bold academics who plunge into the jungles and backwater villages of the world to rescue living tongues about to go extinct." Vanity Fair describes it as "...a fantastic little film that follows professors David Harrison and Gregory Anderson as they crisscross the globe on a mission to document languages on the verge of extinction. From the depths of Siberia to the high reaches of Bolivia, the pair is relentless in their goal, displaying a remarkable patience for interviewing deaf nonagenarians who are frequently the only surviving speakers. While this might all sound horribly sleep-inducing, the excitement of these two professors proves contagious, and as the film reveals how cultural shame and colonialism have factored in the loss of these languages, their incredible dedication becomes all the more compelling." And Variety comments: "A two-man mission to document the world's endangered tongues becomes a fleet-footed study of human communication and its limitless structural and functional possibilities. Prof. Noam Chomsky characterized the film as "A breathtaking thrill ride through the landscape of language."
Harrison is a National Geographic Explorer (since 2007) and a Fellow of the Explorers Club. He makes frequent media appearances to promote language diversity, and has appeared on Good Morning America, The Colbert Report, WHYY Radio, BBC, NPR and in many other outlets. His work has been featured in in The New York Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, Science, Nature, The Los Angeles Times, and USA Today.
In 2006 Harrison coined the term, "Language Hotspots", which has since become a leading promotional metaphor for understanding the language extinction crisis. The hotspots map and list was published in National Geographic Magazine in October 2007, and at www.languagehotspots.org. Harrison and colleagues have embarked on a series of National Geographic sponsored expeditions to visit the hotspots and interview last speakers in places such as Australia, Bolivia and India.
Harrison received his PhD in Linguistics from Yale University in 2000, his MA in Slavic Languages from the Jagiellonian University of Cracow, Poland, and his BA in International Studies from The American University in Washington, DC. He resides in Redding, CT, and he serves as Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Science at Swarthmore College in PA.
