“The Linguists” is a movie about the travails of two linguists, David Harrison and Gregory Anderson. Their objective is to document some of the world’s languages that are already near extinction. They visit Siberia, Arizona, Bolivia and India to research the disappearing languages in these areas. As they try to discover these dying languages, the two linguists also expose themselves to the distinct culture and traditions of the speakers of these languages. In Siberia, they were able to learn about the Chulym which is a tribal language. In Arizona, the linguists were able to come across the Chemehuevi language from a young man who learned of the ancestral language from his grandmother. Harrison and Anderson were able to document the Sora language in India which also encompasses the world of math. Finally, they visit Bolivia and find out about the Kallawaya language which is a language associated with the healing practices of the medicine men in the country.
One finds the movie very interesting because it does not only delve on the study of languages. In the course of the travels of the two linguists, they are also able to discover vanishing cultures. Watching the movie makes one realize the importance of preserving tribal languages all over the world because doing so means appreciating the heritage and culture that embodies these languages. Although one appreciates the sense of humor injected by the two linguists in the film, it sometimes deviates from the true essence of the movie. One thinks that more movies like “The Linguists” should be produced to generate awareness among the younger generations on the traditional cultures of the world. Overall, one enjoyed watching the movie because it is very informative and fascinating.
Works Cited
Fandango. "The Linguists - Synopsis." 2013. fandango.com. Web. 24 September 2013 <http://www.fandango.com/thelinguists_v427969/plotsummary>.
Flixster, Inc. "The Linguists (2008)." n.d. rottentomatoes.com. Web. 24 September 2013 <http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/linguists/>.
