Leanne Hinton

Who is Leanne Hinton?

Leanne Hinton is an emerita professor of linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley. She specializes in American Indian languages, sociolinguistics, and language revitalization. She has been described as "an authority on how and why languages are being lost, the significance of language diversity, and the ways in which indigenous tongues can be revitalized before it's too late." "She first worked with Native American groups on bilingual education, orthographic design and literature development. After joining the Berkeley faculty in 1978, Hinton began working with California languages."

Dr. Hinton is a director of the Survey of California and Other Indian Languages, and also participates in language revitalization efforts and organizations, including the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival and its biennual Breath of Life conferences, for which she is a consulting board member.