When Dogs Could Talk: Among Words in a State of Grace, by N. Scott Momaday

When Dogs Could Talk: Among Words in a State of Grace, by N. Scott Momaday Essay [email protected] Mon, 01/29/2024 - 21:29 Illustration by Marla Johnson“When Dogs Could Talk“ appeared in WLT’s landmark 2007 issue devoted to endangered languages, guest-edited by Sydneyann Binion and David Shook, who were linguistics majors at the University of Oklahoma at the time. We reprint it here in Dr. Momaday’s memory. My friend, the late Vine Deloria Jr., once chided me for remarking too often a time when dogs could talk. I had to admit that he was probably right. I had discovered that Kiowa elders used this formula to indicate something that had happened far back in time. This or that happened a long time ago when dogs could talk. It seems to me a charming and appropriate expression. It is the kind of thing that reveals more and more of itself in the fullness of time. That, by the way, is a mystery which distinguishes the oral tradition, and it is a foundation of language itself. Language seems always to exceed itself, and certainly it exceeds our grasp of it. We know that a certain province of experience is ineffable, that there are limits to what language can express. But the fact is, we have no inkling of what those limits might be. Lewis Thomas has told us that we are at the beginning of language. I suspect that to be true. One evening some years ago, when my eldest daughter was two or three years old, she came to me and asked,... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2024-01-30 03:29:38 UTC ]
News tagged with: #silence carries #lowest note #excellent voice #deepest sense #november day #profound performances #garry wills #highly resolve #intensely creative #deepest belief #navajo prayer #night chant #bright prisms #olive groves #jemez springs #printed word

Other news stories related to: "When Dogs Could Talk: Among Words in a State of Grace, by N. Scott Momaday"

Frankfurt Guest of Honor Slovenia: A ‘Honeycomb of Words’

Frankfurt's Guest of Honor Slovenia program is to draw on the market's natural setting as well as its publishing industry and culture. The post Frankfurt Guest of Honor Slovenia: A ‘Honeycomb of Words’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-15 15:05:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #natural setting #frankfurt guest

Escape from Dude Culture: PW Talks with Mattie Lubchansky 

Cartoonist Mattie Lubchansky talks about their debut graphic novel 'Boys Weekend' (Pantheon) which translates their trans-femme experience into a biting lampoon of tech culture and a humorous recap of the relentless disrespect trans folk face every day. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic novel #debut graphic

Panel Mania: The Talk by Darrin Bell

Darrin Bell’s new graphic memoir ‘The Talk’ is an absorbing, creative examination of the life of a biracial kid told with great honesty, emotional candor, and humor. A nine-page excerpt. The book is out now from Henry Holt. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic memoir #henry holt #nine-page excerpt

Illinois set to become first state to end book bans

Governor JB Pritzker expected to sign bill that would block state funding for public libraries and schools that ban booksGovernor JB Pritzker is expected to sign a bill that would make Illinois the first state to legislate to end book bans – by punishing publicly-funded institutions that attempt... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-30 10:00:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public libraries #ban books #public schools #state legislature

Canadians aren't big on talking openly about class. This author says that needs to change

Toronto Star books editor Deborah Dundas says that even though class divisions exist in Canada, we don't talk about them openly. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-05-27 08:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books editor

A Christian Threat: PW Talks with David P. Gushee

In 'Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies' (Eerdmans, Oct.), professor of Christian ethics David P. Gushee argues that democracies across the world are under threat from an antidemocratic movement among some Christians. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Life-Changing Books for Every Reader: PW Talks with Laura Schreiber

The executive editor at Union Square & Co. looks to nurture the work of both debut and seasoned authors. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #union square

Illinois To Become First State to Ban Book Bans

The Illinois Senate has passed HB 2789, a bill whose terms dictate that state funding from libraries that remove books will be withheld. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-05-04 16:31:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries #remove books #state funding

B&N CEO James Daunt to Deliver State of Bookselling Keynote at U.S. Book Show

As part of a two-day program curated by Association of American Literary Agents, Daunt will discuss how the company’s initiatives and plans for the future will impact the publishing industry during an address on Tuesday, May 23. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #book show

Kindle Scribe update lets you send documents directly from Microsoft Word

Amazon’s well-reviewed hybrid tablet, the Kindle Scribe, is receiving a software update that brings some new tools to the e-reader/doodle machine. The most notable feature here is the ability to send documents directly from Microsoft Word to the e-reader with just a few clicks. This allows you... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-04-24 16:00:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle #recent months #pretty good #multi-column layout

From 'The Office' to the Page: PW Talks with Rainn Wilson

We spoke with Wilson, who played Dwight Shrute on the NBC sitcom 'The Office', about 'Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution' (Hachette Go, Apr.), a profound, humorous, reflective look at faith and spirituality. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #soul boom #nbc sitcom

Jamil Jan Kochai Wins $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize

Jamil Jan Kochai wins the Aspen Words Literary Prize for his short stories focused on the absurdity and violence Afghans have endured. The post Jamil Jan Kochai Wins $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-04-20 08:22:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary prize #short stories

PEN Report Shows State Legislation ‘Supercharging’ Book Bans

“The heavy-handed tactics of state legislators are mandating book bans, plain and simple,” said Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, in a release announcing the new report. “The numbers don’t lie, and they reveal a relentless crusade to constrict children’s freedom to read.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pen america #state legislators #book bans

Granta 163: Best of Young British Novelists 5 review – more solipsism than state of the nation

The latest celebration of emerging literary talent brings thrills, charm and emotional punch to the page. But this new generation have taken an inward turn compared with the more worldly themes of bygone yearsEvery decade since 1983, an editor of the literary quarterly Granta has tasked a panel... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-16 06:00:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #novelists #literary fiction #sigrid rausing #derek owusu #eleanor catton

The Steve Jobs Archive releases e-book chronicling the Apple co-founder's life in his own words

Populated with photographs, emails, speeches and interviews, "Make Something Wonderful" is a chronological exploration of the life of Steve Jobs. Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2023-04-12 22:11:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-book #steve jobs

MPIBA Booksellers Talk Shop, Book Bans in Texas

About 150 publishing professionals were in attendance at the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association SpringCon last week. In addition to networking and professional development opportunities, the attendees discussed a new bill in the Texas legislature, which would place more... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #booksellers association #book bans #texas legislature

Texas Ranks Among Lowest on Library Use, Highest in Book Bans: Library Use & Spending By State

What states spend the most money on their public libraries and what states see the most use per person? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-04-06 11:21:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public libraries #book bans

Print Book Sales Rose 2.7% Last Week, Driven by Early Easter, New Dog Man Title

An early Easter and sales of more than 225,000 copies of the newest edition in Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series combined to increase unit sales of print books by 2.7% last week over the comparable week in 2022. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print books #dav pilkey

Germany’s Bookwire Announces Opening a United States Subsidiary

The ebook and audiobook distributor Bookwire opens its presence in a seventh country, looking to the United States for new business. The post Germany’s Bookwire Announces Opening a United States Subsidiary appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-03-30 16:58:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook #post germany

Ridiculous Magic: PW Talks with Stacey Lee

The new middle grade fantasy Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies offers a mix of magic and Chinese folklore. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |