The Collins Family

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Lima.  Summer is hanging on, although we’ve had some cool, cloudy days.

I thought I’d report on the Linguistics conference in Albuquerque that I mentioned last month.  The main thing I noticed is the big difference between minority languages in the US and Canada and those in Latin America.  Most of the speakers of North American Indian languages who gave papers were among the last 100- usually the last 10 speakers of their native languages.  They were all also perfectly fluent in English.

In Latin America, on the other hand, although the languages are endangered, many are spoken by thousands even hundreds of thousands of people, as in the case of Mam.  There are still many monolinguals in these language groups, and even though bilingualism is strong, the native language of pretty much everyone in these communities is not Spanish, but their own minority language.

Among North American Indian languages native speakers are celebrities, whereas down here they are everywhere.

Another major difference is the cultural value placed on language.  Central and South Amerindians have a very functional view of their language.  they speak it, and many can read and write it.  In North America it is common that tribal groups consider the language to be taboo.  It can NOT be written or recorded in any fashion.  I heard people say that writing would kill their language.  Others felt that if the traditions were written, they wouldn’t need the elders any longer and the elders’ respected place would thereby be usurped by young kids who could read write and recite, but who cared nothing for the ways of the tribe.

My view is that reading and writing enhance the likelihood that the languages will withstand the onslaught of globalization and the pressure to change to a major language like English or Spanish.  Even what I've called a “likelihood" is perhaps not very likely, but as long as people understand best in their own language, ministry should be tailored to the languages and cultures of the world’s minorities.

Enough said on that, but feel free to query.  It still sorta mystifies me.

Four Wycliffe members presented papers.  These were well received, although our pro-literacy bias was clear to everyone.  It was a lovely plus to hear an Oneida Indian man and woman sing a song in their native language, Draw me nearer, the lovely hymn by Fanny Crosby, one of my heroes.  Christianity and minority languages go hand in hand.  God has such a heart for the forgotten.  Who else really cares about the Oneida?

A side benefit to the Albuquerque conference was an overnight in Atlanta with Isaac along the way and a breakfast with my younger brother, his wife and a dear aunt of mine that I hadn’t seen in just under 34 years.  I know this exactly, because Nancy and I saw her on our honeymoon, which I remember quite well.

Our main prayer request right now is for Elisa and the boys (see attached photo).  She is very great with children and D-day can be any day now.  The first baby is in birth position, although his brother is still swimming around.  According to the doctors they each weigh around five pounds.  Nan is planning to go to Raleigh next week to help out and hopefully to welcome the babies to the Santana/Collins extended household.  Yury’s mother is already there.

Nan and I have been blessed the last two weeks by a quickly planned trip by Molly.  She came down to hang out for a while before retuning to Portland in the next week or so.  If the babies are born, she’ll plan a quick side trip to Raleigh to hug and hold her first nephews.  Molly and I plan to visit Iquitos next weekend.  For those interested in such things, Iquitos is the largest city in the world not reachable by road.  It is in northeastern Peru smack dab in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest.  We’re quite excited, although I know that piranhas lurk beneath the placid surface of the water.  Nonetheless, after almost four years in Lima, I’d like to see some rain.

Isaac has a prayer request as well.  Their band is releasing their first CD on July 1 at a concert in Atlanta.  An agent and the owner of a recording label will be there to see them, Lord enabling.  They are nervous, but very excited.  I’m sure they’d appreciate your prayers for success.

CILTA is going well.  We’re in week 10 out of 17 of first semester.  May God give our students motivation and stamina (their profs too).  I had a good month linguistically speaking.  I was asked to contribute a chapter to a book on teaching linguistics.  It sounds like fun.  I like teaching linguistics.  I also had an article to a journal accepted for publication “after significant revision”.  At first I resented having to do significant revision, but the referees’ comments were helpful and the paper was too long anyhow, so doing surgery on it will be good for me.

Thanks to all of you for your interest and prayers.

God’s best to each one,

Wes