Keeper of Yakama Language Awarded Honorary Degree

  • September 10, 2009
  • |
  • Blog

090309_VirginiaBeavertFILE1.jpg_webAfter playing a pivotal role in developing a 576-page dictionary of the Yakama language, Virginia Beavert has been awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Washington. According to Yakama General Council Vice Chairwoman Mavis Kindness, Beavert is “probably the last one of our fluent speakers that can read and write the language.”

In addition to spearheading the dictionary project, Beavert also earned a bilingual and bicultural master’s degree from the University of Arizona in 1997 and continues to teach her native language at Heritage University.  Currently, the talented Linguist, who speaks five of the fourteen original dialects of the plateau tribes, is working on a thesaurus of the Yakama language for Linguistic studies.  On September 11th Heritage University will hold a dinner to celebrate Beavert’s prestigious honor.

Interested in hearing more about the Yakama language?  Please click here to read the full article.

To find out how Language Services Associates can support your language needs, please call 1-800-305-9673 or visit our contact page.

Source: Link