Our Linguists
Justin Spence, (far right) Linguist Professor at the University of California in Davis and Lorenzo Lambertino, (in the middle, in the back) graduate student at the Department of Linguists and Language Development at SJSU, helped Rolinda Want and Cheryl Tuttle (Wailaki language teachers) at the Breath of Life Institute at U. C. Berkeley in June of 2014.
​
Justin Spence, went on to Skype with Cheryl Tuttle for two hours each week for two years to help the Wailaki Language Project to understand their linguist resources and develop lessons for their high school students.
Click on photo below to see Slide Deck Gallery.
Kayla Begay (middle of pic) is a Hoopa Valley Tribal member of Hupa, Karuk, and Yurok descent. She received her undergraduate studies at Stanford, zeroing in on linguistics, earning a degree with honors as well as a minor in Native American Studies. Kayla received her doctorate at U. C. Berkeley. She wrote her dissertation on Wailaki Grammar. Wailaki and Hupa are languages that are closely related. Kayla has been helping revive the Wailaki Language through consultation.
Lewis Lawyer: Linguist, U.C. Davis. Lewis gave a class at U.C. Berkeley, to help digitize C. Hart Merriam's Wailaki work. Perry Lincoln: Wailaki and RVIT tribal member, is a consultant. Justin Spence: Our main linguists, from U.C. Davis, who has been helping revitalize the Wailaki Language. Justin has dedicated many hours to Skype and help decipher linguist notes.
Justin Spence, Native American Studies Professor and Linguist at U.C. Davis has helped our Wailaki Language classes by helping to decipher multiple linguistic texts from the early 1900's. His help has been invaluable. Lorenzo Tlacaelel Lambertino, was one of our linguists that first introduced Cheryl Tuttle and Rolinda want to the Wailaki language at U.C. Berkley's 2014 Breath of Life. Lorenzo has been very support of our work.
Kayla Begay (middle of pic) is a Hoopa Valley Tribal member of Hupa, Karuk, and Yurok descent. She received her undergraduate studies at Stanford, zeroing in on linguistics, earning a degree with honors as well as a minor in Native American Studies. Kayla received her doctorate at U. C. Berkeley. She wrote her dissertation on Wailaki Grammar. Wailaki and Hupa are languages that are closely related. Kayla has been helping revive the Wailaki Language through consultation.