Timothy Montler facts for kids
Timothy Montler is an American academic and linguist. An academic is someone who teaches and does research at a university. A linguist is a scientist who studies languages. As of 2013, Montler is a professor of linguistics at the University of North Texas. Since 1990, he has worked hard to help save the Klallam language.
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Saving the Klallam Language
Timothy Montler has done important work to help keep the Klallam language alive. This language is spoken by the Klallam people, a Native American tribe in the Pacific Northwest.
Creating the Klallam Alphabet
Montler worked with Adeline Smith, an elder from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Together, they created the very first Klallam language alphabet. An alphabet is a set of letters used to write a language. This was a big step in writing down and teaching the language.
The First Klallam Dictionary
Montler and Adeline Smith also wrote the world's first Klallam language dictionary. A dictionary is a book that lists words and their meanings. This huge project was published in December 2012 by the University of Washington Press.
How the Dictionary Was Made
Montler and Smith worked together on the Klallam dictionary for many years. They started in the 1990s and continued through the early 2010s. Adeline Smith made a huge contribution to the dictionary, adding 12,000 words and phrases. Montler also worked closely with other Native Klallam speakers. These included Hazel Sampson, Ed Sampson, and Bea Charles. Their help was very important in making the dictionary complete.
