How Linguists Learn Languages in the Wild with no Resources | Dr. Chris Rogers

In today's episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Chris Rogers, a field linguist and PhD whose work revolves around documenting endangered languages. Chris has worked on numerous fascinating projects around the globe, but his main focus has been the documentation and grammar of the Xinka language, an indigenous language from southeastern Guatemala that is critically endangered.In this conversation, Chris shares incredible insights into what it means to work with languages that have little to no existing resources. We ask him thought-provoking questions, like how he learns a language without written materials or a script, and what he would do if he encountered a completely unfamiliar language in the Amazon.Chris also dives into the stories and challenges of working in the field, including his experiences documenting the Xinka language, the tools and methods he uses, and some of the funny moments that come with working in linguistics.In the episode, I joke that Chris is the last Xinka speaker, he is NOT, he is probably one of the few individuals who know the grammar of Xinka and its structure the best, from what is known, the last Xinka speaker passed away in 2012.We also touch on broader topics like his advice for language learners, the impact of linguistic knowledge on learning new languages, and how his passion for languages continues to grow. Chris even shares updates on his current projects and how his expertise has shaped his personal language learning journey, such as learning German.Subscribe to know more language experts and linguistic insights!Chris Rogers' page: https://hum.byu.edu/directory/chris-rogersChris Rogers' website: https://languageconservation.org/Contact: [e-mail]