This week, Kyle and Emily talk with linguist Daniel W. Hieber, Ph.D. (@linguisticdiscovery) about typology, his work with the Chitimacha tribe, and what it takes to revitalize a language. And as you might imagine, it takes a lot. 

What can a single language reveal about how all languages grow, change, and relate to one another? Sharing his experience working directly with the Chitimacha to learn and document their language, Hieber explores language isolates, the standards for language documentation, and the worlds that open up when studying a lost language. 

The conversation highlights language as a living, communal process. Whether through revitalization, documentation, or even the emergence of new slang, it’s a reminder that language adapts, reflects, and rebuilds alongside the people who use it.

Hieber's Substack: https://linguisticdiscovery.substack.com/

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore