K. David Harrison
Country
United States
Birth - Death
1966 -
Occupation
Scientist, academic
Description
Anthropologist and explorer. Professor of linguistics at Swarthmore College since 2001. National Geographic Explorer and a fellow of the international, multidisciplinary Explorers Club who is bringing LGBTQ presence to the profession. Co-directing their Enduring Voices Project and providing cultural expertise for expeditions, publications and web-content. His early career research focused on Tuvan and other Turkic languages of central Siberia and western Mongolia. More recently, he has been engaged in fieldwork in India, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, and Vanuatu. Pioneered the concept of language hot spots, small geographic areas that have high levels of linguistic diversity and endangerment coupled with a low level of past study and documentation. Featured in the 2008 documentary 'The Linguists'. Has authored several books and lectures widely on the value of linguistic and cultural diversity.
