Culture

Chasing Voices

John Peabody Harrington crisscrossed the U.S. chasing the voices of the last speakers of Native America's dying languages. Understanding languages was his gift, which became his obsession. From one tribal community to the next he went, working in collaboration with the last speakers documenting every finite detail of the language before it was lost forever.

Chasing Voices

56m 44s

American linguist and ethnologist John Peabody Harrington amassed well over one million pages of notes on over 100 different Native American languages during his 50-year career. Descendants of these lost speakers are now reviving their languages thanks to Harrington and the tribal elders who trusted him enough to speak.

Episodes

  • Chasing Voices

    56m 44s

    American linguist and ethnologist John Peabody Harrington amassed well over one million pages of notes on over 100 different Native American languages during his 50-year career. Descendants of these lost speakers are now reviving their languages thanks to Harrington and the tribal elders who trusted him enough to speak.

Schedule

PBS PASSPORT

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA+ and PBS Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.

Similar Shows