The Linguists

“A breathtaking thrill ride” –Noam Chomsky

“talk of the town at Sundance” –Reuters

“A charming film. It's a lot of fun.” –Los Angeles Times

Scientists estimate that of 7,000 languages in the world, half will be gone by the end of this century. THE LINGUISTS joins David Harrison and Gregory Anderson, scientists racing to document languages on the verge of extinction. In the rugged landscapes of Siberia, India, and Bolivia, the linguists’ resolve is tested by the very forces stifling languages: institutionalized racism and violent economic unrest. David and Greg’s journey takes them deep into the heart of the cultures, knowledge, and communities at stake.

Directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller & Jeremy Newberger; 2008, 65 minutes. Nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Science and Technology Programming.