The public is invited to attend the following events:

Writing an Unwritten Language A stimulating look at the range of issues that must be considered when creating a writing system for a previously unwritten language.
Saturday, July 12, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, in the main exhibit hall,
Open to the public. Admission is free. Reservations are needed because of limited seating.
Many have assumed that designing a writing system for a language is a linguistic task and should thus be entrusted to linguists. This has often had very negative consequences because many factors should be taken into account. In addition to linguistic factors, one should consider tradition/history; sociolinguistic factors (variation, attitudes and preferences of potential users); political, ideological, and religious; psycholinguistic and sensory motor; technological (clay tablets!); educational; and esthetic. We will consider each of these briefly, discussing some of the issues that arise. Presentation given by David Weber, a linguist affiliated with SIL International. He has done fieldwork with the Quechua of Huánuco in central Peru where he has conducted linguistic research, educational development, Bible translation, and software development. He is the author of Relativization and Nominalized Clauses in Huallaga (Huánuco) Quechua, Grammar of Huallaga (Huánuco) Quechua, Writing Quechua: The Case for a Hispanic Orthography, and primary co-author of Rimaycuna: Quechua del Huallaga (a Quechua-Spanish-English dictionary), as well as other books and articles.
To RSVP, please call (301)-864-7071 or e-mail by July 10. Please include your name and phone number. Seating is limited to 25 people Light refreshments will be served. Ample free parking available. Click here for directions. For a printer-friendly flyer, click here.

PLEASE COME VISIT US AT:
The National Museum of Language
7100 Baltimore Avenue – Suite 202
College Park, Maryland 20740

For ages: 9 to 99.
Open hours:
Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM;
First and Third Sundays, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM.

We are seeking volunteers to act as docents and to assist in other capacities in connection with the opening.  Readers in the Metropolitan Washington area who may be interested in participating are asked to contact Dr. Amelia Murdoch either by telephone at 301-864-7071 or email to

The Museum has received a Community Services Grant from the City of College Park in support of this exhibit, and the Center for Heritage Studies of the University of Maryland as well the Museum of the Alphabet in Waxhaw, NC are also providing technical assistance and funding.  These contributions are greatly appreciated but there are many expenses not covered by these grants.  Members are encouraged to renew their membership promptly, and if possible to renew at a higher level.  Special contributions to celebrate the opening of the Museum will be most welcome.  We encourage contributions in honor of or in memory of a friend, mentor or loved one; major donations will be suitably recognized.  All such contributions will be published in the Newsletter as appropriate.

Silent Auction

The Museum holds a silent auction each year as part of the annual dinner. We thank the donors of merchandise and services for the 2007 auction. See a complete list here.

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