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Koo Yandabage
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Koo Yandabage, a speaker of Ipili, in Tari, Papua New Guinea
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Interviewing
Photograph by Joanie D. Nasher
The Enduring Voices team interviews Koo Yandabage and Sam Ako, both Ipili speakers, at Tari. Thomas Nokondi (far left) observes.
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Huli Wigmen
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Huli men of the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea in traditional sing-sing dress. Women dancers: Ipari & Abi; Men dancers (left to right) Tumbu, Hangu, Pipe, Habije, Wakape, Ajaku, Gibe, Tangeriye; Huli sing-sing dance: Mali, Ceremony face paint: Mali-ambua-hare, Drum: Tabaga, Huli hair wig: Manda-mindi, Shells: Tange.
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Ganabi Sebo
Photograph by Chris Rainier
David Harrison and Greg Anderson of the Enduring Voices team interview Ganabi Sebo, a speaker of Foe, near Tari, Papua New Guinea.
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Thomas Nokondi
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Thomas Nokondi, a Huli speaker in Papua New Guinea
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Video Playback
Photograph by Chris Rainier
David Harrison and Greg Anderson of the Enduring Voices team view video playback with Ganabi Sebo, a Foe speaker, near Tari, Papua New Guinea. -
Joycelyn Teke
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Joycelyn Teke, a Huli speaker of Southern Highlands province, Papua New Guinea
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Luis Kolisio on the Karawari River
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Luis Kolisi, a Yokoim speaker of Kundiman village on the Karawari river, Papua New Guinea, here shown modelling traditional body paint for tourists. Decoration: Andi pulu la.
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Translation
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Felix Andi, Yokoim community leader of Kundiman village, consults with Greg Anderson (left) and David Harrison (center) to translate a Yokoim song. -
Ivino Sabakui
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Ivino Sabakui, a Wamut speaker, in Wamburmas Village, Karawari Region, Papua New Guinea
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Nick Waikay, Councilor of Konmei Village
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Nick Waikay, councilor of Konmei village, of the Yokoim, in the Karawari area of Papua New Guinea
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Nick Waikay, Councilman of Konmei Village
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Nick Waikay, councilman of Konmei village, is dressed for a performance of the Yokoim origin myth.
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Nick Waikay and His Wife Merilyn
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Nick Waikay, councilor of Konmei village, and his wife, Merilyn, of the Yokoim, in the Karawari area of Papua New Guinea
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Enduring Voices Team
Photograph provided by Enduring Voices team
Nick Waikay, councilman of Konmei village, with the Enduring Voices team (left to right): Greg Anderson, David Harrison and Chris Rainier. -
Luis Kolisi
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Luis Kolisi, a Yokoim speaker and singer of Kundiman village on the Karawari river, shown in his everyday dress in Papua New Guinea
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Karim Rribal Dancers
Photograph by Chris Rainier
A Karim tribe intiation dance in the Yimas 2 village, Karawari river region, Papua New Guinea. Karawari dance: Manbinyira, Mask: Timbuwun, Drums: Wangin, Headresses: Yangiliban, Female and male body art: Karatim. -
A Karim Tribe Intiation Dance
Photograph by Chris Rainier
A Karim tribe intiation dance in the Yimas 2 village, Sepik river region, Papua New Guinea. Karawari dance: Manbinyira, Mask: Timbuwun, Drums: Wangin, Headresses: Yangiliban, Female and male body art: Karatim. -
A Karim Tribe Intiation Dance
Photograph by Chris Rainier
A Karim tribe intiation dance in the Yimas 2 village, Sepik river region, Papua New Guinea. Karawari dance: Manbinyira, Mask: Timbuwun, Drums: Wangin, Headresses: Yangiliban, Female and male body art: Karatim. -
Christina Yimasinant
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Christina Yimasinant, a Karim (Yimas) speaker from the Karawari river region of Papua New Guinea. Facial art painting: Karatim. -
Gibe and Pipe, Huli Wigmen
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Gibe and Pipe, Huli wigmen, in Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Traditional ceremonial paint colors: Mali-ambua-hare, Waterfall: Iba-Fugu.
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Chris Rainier Photographs Performance
Photograph provided by Enduring Voices team
Chris Rainier of the Enduring Voices team photographs a member of the Asaro tribe, dressed here for a cultural performance. Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea. -
Dr. Greg Anderson Interviewing Panau Speakers
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Dr. Greg Anderson of the Enduring Voices team interviews speakers of the Panau language in Matugar village, Papua New Guinea. -
Dr. David Harrison and Panau Speakers
Photograph by Chris Rainier
John Agid (left) and other Panau speakers of Matugar village consult with Dr. David Harrison. -
Joe Mawob of Papua New Guinea
Photograph by Chris Rainier
Joe Mawob, a speaker of the endangered Panau language, in Matugar village, Papua New Guinea
Stories From the Expeditions
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Vanishing Voices Pictures
By the next century nearly half of the roughly 7,000 languages spoken on Earth will likely disappear, as communities abandon native tongues in favor of English, Mandarin, or Spanish. What is lost when a language goes silent?
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Cultural Revival in Europe’s Only Buddhist Region
The Enduring Voices team visited the Republic of Kalmykia, in European Russia, where they found evidence of a strong cultural revitalization among the younger generation, expressed in song, dance, poetry, and renewed use of the Kalmyk language.
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NG Explorers Help Record Xyzyl Language
The Enduring Voices team reports back on the Xyzyl (pronounced “hizzle”) language from the Republic of Xakasia northwest of Mongolia. They will be working with the Xyzyl people to create a talking dictionary and grammar to help them preserve their ancient tongue.
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Arunachal Pradesh, India Expedition 2011
Read the full report from the Enduring Voices team's 2011 expedition to Arunachal Pradesh, India, where they visited five endangered language communities.
More Photos and Videos
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Santa Fe Workshop Digital Stories and Books
View photos of digital stories and books in different endangered languages from the Santa Fe workshop held in April 2010.
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About Enduring Voices Slide Show
Indigenous languages are disappearing at an alarming rate, taking with them eons of cultural, ecological, and historical knowledge.
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Paraguay Expedition Photos
In May 2009, the Enduring Voices team traveled to Paraguay, which lies within the Central South America Language Hotspot and has a reported 18 languages (not counting Spanish) belonging to six distinct language families.
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India Photo Slideshow 2008
See photos from the Enduring Voices team's expedition to India in November 2008 and view different words translated into the Aka, Monpa, Nishi, and Sherdukpen languages.
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Expedition Video
The Enduring Voices Project travels to some of the most remote parts of the world to study Earth's many endangered languages. See a team of intrepid researchers in action in this video of expeditions to Northern Australia and Northeastern India.
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David Harrison at Pop!Tech 2008
More than 3,500 of Earth's 7,000 languages are in danger of extinction. Linguist K. David Harrison discussed the ongoing effort to document and preserve these threatened languages at the 2008 Pop!Tech conference in Camden, Maine.
Meet the Team
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Gregory Anderson, Linguist
Dr. Gregory D. S. Anderson is a linguist who is director of the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the documentation, revitalization, and maintenance of endangered languages.
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David Harrison, Linguist
K. David Harrison is a linguist and leading specialist in the study of endangered languages. He co-leads the Enduring Voices project at National Geographic and is an associate professor at Swarthmore College.
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Chris Rainier, Photographer
Chris Rainier is considered one of the leading documentary photographers working today. His life's mission is to put on film both the remaining natural wilderness and indigenous cultures around the globe and to use images to create social change.
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Living Tongues
The Enduring Voices Project represents a partnership between National Geographic Mission Programs and the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages.
Talking Dictionaries
Support Enduring Voices
Ethics Statement
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Ethics Statement
View the Enduring Voices Project ethics statement.
The Last Speakers
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The Last Speakers
The poignant chronicle of K. David Harrison’s expeditions around the world to meet with last speakers of vanishing languages.
"The Last Speakers" is now published in Japanese. Read the interview with Dr. Harrison here and purchase the Japanese edition here.
