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Languages and cultures are becoming increasingly homogenous, with the resulting loss of a rich linguistic tapestry reflecting unique perspectives and ways of life. Rare Tongues tells the stories of the world鈥檚 rare and vanishing languages, revealing how each is a living testament to human resilience, adaptability, and the perennial quest for identity.

Taking readers on a captivating journey of discovery, Lorna Gibb explores the histories of languages under threat or already extinct as well as those in resurgence, shedding light on their origins, development, and distinctive voices. She travels the globe鈥攆rom Australia and Finland to India, the Canary Islands, Namibia, Scotland, and Paraguay鈥攕howing how these languages are not mere words and syntax but keepers of diverse worldviews, sites of ethnic conflict, and a means for finding surprising commonalities. Readers learn the basics of how various language systems work鈥攚ith vowels and consonants, whistles and clicks, tonal inflections, or hand signs鈥攁nd how this kaleidoscope of self-expression carries vital information about our planet, indigenous cultures and tradition, and the history and evolution of humankind.

Rare Tongues is essential reading for anyone concerned about the preservation of endangered languages and an eloquent and disarmingly personal meditation on why the world鈥檚 linguistic heritage is so fundamental to our shared experience鈥攁nd why its loss should worry us all.

Ideas Podcast: Rare Tongues

Why linguistic diversity matters