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SIL Global (then known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics) began in 1934 as a summer training program in Arkansas," /> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.sil.org/about/history" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.sil.org/node/85" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="SIL Global" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.sil.org/about/history" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Our History" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The principal founder of SIL Global was William Cameron Townsend (1896–1982). He began cross-cultural work with the Kaqchikel people of Guatemala in 1919. By 1929, Townsend’s vision had broadened to include other peoples who also needed language development. SIL Global (then known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics) began in 1934 as a summer training program in Arkansas, USA, with two students. The enrollment of these summer classes grew each subsequent year. Kenneth L. Pike (1912-2000) was one of five students in the 1935 course." /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2024-08-13T09:30:00-05:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.sil.org/about/history" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Our History" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The principal founder of SIL Global was William Cameron Townsend (1896–1982). He began cross-cultural work with the Kaqchikel people of Guatemala in 1919. By 1929, Townsend’s vision had broadened to" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2012-05-01T15:38:01-05:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2024-08-13T09:30:00-05:00" /> <title>Our History | SIL Global</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_lQaZfjVpwP_oGNqdtWCSpJT1EMqXdMiU84ekLLxQnc4.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_EM9PzeHZt2AxxQ3R05nXINg9akBOG66G3hxOgWtlp2E.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_y-6OGvqwgwpR259lzJYNwvxpJm3Q1qOD_DWt90goRpM.css" media="all" /> <style>.panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region { padding: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside { padding-right: 0.5em; padding-left: 0.5em; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside-first { padding-left: 0; } .panels-flexible-new 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<div id="page-title"> <h1 class="page-title">Our History</h1> </div> <a id="main-content"></a> <div class="region region-content"> <section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="panel-display panel-1col clearfix" > <div class="panel-panel panel-col"> <div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><br /> <strong><img alt="" class="inline" src="/sites/default/files/silhistory3.png" style="width: 238px; height: 219px; float: right;" /></strong></p> <p>The principal founder of SIL Global was <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/wct/william-cameron-townsend">William Cameron Townsend</a> (1896–1982). He began cross-cultural work with the <a href="https://www.ethnologue.com/language/cak">Kaqchikel</a> people of Guatemala in 1919. By 1929, Townsend’s vision had broadened to include other peoples who also needed language development. SIL Global (then known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics) began in 1934 as a summer training program in Arkansas, USA, with two students. The enrollment of these summer classes grew each subsequent year.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike">Kenneth L. Pike</a> (1912-2000) was one of five students in the 1935 course. He began work on the <a href="https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mig">Mixtec</a> language in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. This work launched Pike into his life-long work in linguistics and the study of language in the context of human behavior. Dr. Pike served as President of SIL until 1979.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-view field-type-viewreference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div class="contextual-links-region"><div class="view view-history view-id-history view-display-id-block_1 view-dom-id-3d97cb10ed827a82b8b400d63edbf478"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="timeline"><div class="separator"></div></div> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/first-session-linguistics-courses?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-2120737066" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1934</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">First Session of Linguistics Courses</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/1934_first_sil_training_session_-_straightened_cropped.jpg?itok=MBwzhjGz" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-2120737066"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1934_first_sil_training_session_-_straightened_cropped_0.jpg?itok=VSHu40YV" width="400" height="196" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">First Session of Linguistics Courses</h4> <p>L.L. Legters and <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/wct/william-cameron-townsend">William Cameron Townsend</a> co-found the organization which will later be known as SIL. It begins with a summer of linguistics courses in an Arkansas farmhouse.</p> <p><i>Left to Right: Joe Chicol (Kacqchikel language teacher), L.L. Legters, Cameron Townsend (language and linguistics instructors), Richard McKinney, Oral Van Horn and Ed Sywulka (first three students)</i></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1934</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/ken-pike-joins-second-session-summer-courses?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-2133432435" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1935</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Ken Pike Joins Second Session of Summer Courses</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/2-1935-camp-wycliffe-thumb.jpg?itok=rLqTJPLd" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-2133432435"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1935_camp_wycliffe_m_-_color_adjust.jpg?itok=mn-CVRjr" width="400" height="176" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Ken Pike Joins Second Session of Summer Courses</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike">Kenneth L. Pike</a> (far right) is one of five students who attended the second session of the Summer Institute of Linguistics </p> <p>Pike’s interest in phonology and tonal systems begins through his language development work among Mixtec language speakers in Oaxaca, Mexico. He dedicates his life to studying linguistics and language in the context of human behavior.</p> <p> </p> <p><span> </span></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1935</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sils-first-two-women-linguists?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-829854840" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1936</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL's First Two Women Linguists</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/6-f-hansen-e-pike-1938-m.jpg?itok=mxYUnrHO" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-829854840"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1938_f_hansen_e_pike_-_cropped.jpg?itok=JWzXYMUW" width="256" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL's First Two Women Linguists</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/resources/search/contributor/cowan-florence-h">Florence Hansen Cowan</a> and <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/eunice-pike-and-eugene-nida-remembered">Eunice Pike</a>, SIL's first team of single women, begin linguistic work in the <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/language/mau">Huautla Mazatec</a> language in Oaxaca, Mexico. The women would collaborate on linguistic analysis with Eunice’s brother, <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike">Ken Pike</a>.</p> <p class="smalltext"><em>Watching [Eunice] analyze the sound patterns and hearing her talk about the system’s impact on grammatical structures gave us the practical experience we needed that later helped us teach others. </em>-Judith Pike Schram</p> <p><span class="caption"><em>Hansen (far left) and Pike (far right) with Mazatec friends</em></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1936</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/third-session-summer-courses-includes-notable-participants?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1038808964" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1936</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Third Session of Summer Courses Includes Notable Participants</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/1936_camp_wycliffe-2_faces_closeup3.jpg?itok=v7__nd7K" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1038808964"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1936_camp_wycliffe-2.jpg?itok=1qcy0fSR" width="400" height="139" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Third Session of Summer Courses Includes Notable Participants</h4> <p>The third session of the Summer Institute of Linguistics offers linguistics training to the largest group of students yet. Participants <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike">Ken Pike</a>, <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/eunice-pike-and-eugene-nida-remembered">Eunice Pike</a> and <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/eunice-pike-and-eugene-nida-remembered">Eugene Nida</a> will become known for their contributions to the disciplines of linguistics and translation.</p> <p><span class="caption"><em>Staff and students of the 1936 Summer Institute of Linguistics (from back, left to right): Joe Chicol, Eugene Nida, Kenneth Pike, Walter Miller, Robert Smallwood, Jake Johnson, Eunice Pike, Ethel May Squire, Elvira Townsend, Cameron Townsend, Mr. and Mrs. John Twentyman, Grace Armstrong, Florence Hansen (Not pictured: Joe McCullough, Roland Davies, Landis Christansen, Wilfred Morris)</em> </span></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1936</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/thirty-six-language-workers-studying-eighteen-mexican-languages?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-2038363900" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1940</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Thirty-Six Language Workers Studying Eighteen Mexican Languages</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/10_-_slocum_tzeltal_m_-_thumbnail.jpg?itok=do09RhQD" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-2038363900"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/10_-_slocum_tzeltal_m_-_square_edit_for_timeline_color2.jpg?itok=vwvUXkCY" width="281" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Thirty-Six Language Workers Studying Eighteen Mexican Languages</h4> <p>By 1940, thirty-six language workers with the Summer Institute of Linguistics are studying eighteen Mexican languages.</p> <p>In 1941, the number rises to forty-nine workers in nineteen locations. SIL holds its first conference in Tetelcingo, Mexico.</p> <p><em><a href="/resources/search/contributor/slocum-marianna-c" target="_blank">Mariana Slocum</a> (right) learns the <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/language/tzh" target="_blank">Tzeltal</a> language from a member of the community.</em></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1940</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/ken-pike-earns-phd?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-796393184" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1942</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Ken Pike Earns PhD</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/11-phd-pike-m.jpg?itok=VIaKtDbk" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-796393184"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/11-phd-pike-m_0.jpg?itok=WoC1KFBF" width="303" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Ken Pike Earns PhD</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike">Kenneth L. Pike</a> receives a PhD in linguistics from the University of Michigan.</p> <p>Dr. Pike becomes the first SIL President, serving for thirty-seven years (1942-1979). He then serves as President Emeritus from 1979 until his death in 2000. An internationally known linguist, Pike stimulated thousands of other researchers. He <a href="https://www.sil.org/resources/search/contributor/pike-kenneth-l?query=&sort_by=field_reap_sortdate&sort_order=ASC">authored</a> many books and articles, taught in universities, and held workshops all over the world.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1942</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-norman-ok?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1473825316" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1943</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL in Norman, OK</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/12-sil-norman-1942-m.jpg?itok=k8sXByNP" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1473825316"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/12_-_sil_norman_1942_m.jpg?itok=aawAi9Ew" width="400" height="183" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL in Norman, OK</h4> <p>122 students attend SIL's ninth summer of linguistics training courses. This is the first year that classes are held at the University of Oklahoma. This first of many institutional partnerships continues for more than thirty years (until 1987).</p> <p>Townsend's concept of SIL as a non-sectarian organization is put into writing and becomes official policy.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1943</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-work-north-america?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-728940889" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1944</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Work in North America</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/navajo_thumbnail2.jpg?itok=N15e_XwE" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-728940889"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/navajo_picture.jpg?itok=yU8MvD50" width="400" height="247" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Work in North America</h4> <p>SIL begins language development partnership with the <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/language/nav">Navajo</a> people of the USA.</p> <p>SIL courses begin in Canada.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1944</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/survival-training-mexico-sil-working-three-countries?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-442420309" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1945</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Survival Training in Mexico; SIL is Working in Three Countries</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/13-jungle-camp2-m.jpg?itok=VujVVhWF" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-442420309"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/13_-_jungle_camp2_m.jpg?itok=Ib1y9vQo" width="400" height="235" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Survival Training in Mexico; SIL is Working in Three Countries</h4> <p>The wilderness survival training course for new fieldworkers begins in Chiapas, Mexico.</p> <p>SIL is now involved in language development in three countries: Mexico (since 1936), the USA (beginning with the <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/language/nav">Navajo</a> community in 1944) and Peru (following a cooperative agreement with the Government of Peru in 1945).</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1945</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/aviation-history-peru?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-408428372" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1946</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Aviation History in Peru</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/1946_jaars_aviation_beginning_peru_thumb_for_timeline3.png?itok=C_CsoZcY" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-408428372"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1946_jaars_aviation_beginning_main_for_timeline4.png?itok=mVCrA5AK" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Aviation History in Peru</h4> <p>SIL christens its first airplane at an official ceremony in Lima, Peru. </p> <p>Bette Greene begins flying for SIL in Peru. She makes history as the first woman to fly over the Peruvian Andes.</p> <p>In 1945, SIL founder Townsend and the Peruvian Minister of Education sign an agreement inviting SIL to begin working with ethnolinguistic communities in <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/country/PE">Peru</a>. </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1946</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-11 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/jaars-founded?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-811149634" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1948</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">JAARS is Founded</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/15-jaars-plane-6082301-m.jpg?itok=ii0n13Vl" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-811149634"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/15_-_jaars_plane_6082301_m_0.jpg?itok=ROI5C6Aa" width="367" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">JAARS is Founded</h4> <p>The Jungle Aviation and Radio Service (<a href="https://jaars.org/">JAARS</a>) is founded to provide aviation and technical service to SIL staff involved in language development in remote areas.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1948</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-12 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/first-edition-ethnologue?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1035064175" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1951</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">First Edition of Ethnologue</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/1st_ethnologue_edited.jpg?itok=IR8d7Z8p" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1035064175"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1st_ethnologue_edited_0.jpg?itok=yvFWxlK0" width="242" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">First Edition of Ethnologue</h4> <p>The first edition of the<i> </i><a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/"><i>Ethnologue</i></a>, a resource of the world's known living languages, consists of ten mimeographed pages that describe forty-six languages or groups of languages. </p> <p>Language Development Work Begins in Asia</p> <p>The Philippine Department of Education and SIL sign a formal agreement on 28 February 1953.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1951</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-13 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/language-development-work-begins-asia?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1768618720" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1953</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Language Development Work Begins in Asia</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/18-dick-pittman-m.jpg?itok=zng0thXK" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1768618720"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/18_-_dick_pittman_m.jpg?itok=x_2g-a-H" width="286" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Language Development Work Begins in Asia</h4> <p><span>A formal agreement between the Philippine Department of Education and SIL was signed on February 28, 1953.</span></p> <p><br /> <span><em>SIL's Richard Pittman (left) with Philippines President Ramon Magsaysay (right), circa 1957.</em></span></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1953</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-14 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-europe?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-585196564" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1953</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL in Europe</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/19-england-1953-m.jpg?itok=6pUCkfPI" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-585196564"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/19_-_england_1953_m.jpg?itok=A-jdYQUf" width="400" height="224" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL in Europe</h4> <p>SIL begins linguistics training in the UK.</p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1953</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-15 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-pacific?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1290877426" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1956</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL in the Pacific</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/20-barai2-m.jpg?itok=YlQwKW1n" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1290877426"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/20_-_barai2_m.jpg?itok=HdTZnVgm" width="258" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL in the Pacific</h4> <p>SIL personnel begin language development work in <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/country/PG">Papua New Guinea</a>, the first location of SIL <a href="http://www.silpng.org/">fieldwork</a> in the Pacific. </p> <p><em>Men from the <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/language/bbb" target="_blank">Barai</a> community in traditional attire.</em></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1956</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-16 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-25th-anniversary?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-704346003" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1959</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL 25th Anniversary</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/sil_3_original.png?itok=MnbSHLpG" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-704346003"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/sil_original.jpg?itok=ocreL43n" width="276" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL 25th Anniversary</h4> <p>SIL celebrates twenty-five years of language development in partnership with the world's ethnolinguistic minority communities.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1959</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-17 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-invited-african-partnerships?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1397423654" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1961</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Invited Into African Partnerships</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/23-ghana-man-m.jpg?itok=3Z_f9ScS" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1397423654"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/ghanaian_man_reading.jpg?itok=h7ef0g39" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Invited Into African Partnerships</h4> <p>In December 1961, a cooperative agreement with the University of Ghana marks the beginning of SIL's language development in Ghana, the first SIL program in Africa.</p> <p>In 2012, SIL celebrates <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/fifty-years-language-development-africa">fifty years of language development partnership in Africa</a>.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1961</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-18 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/dr-benjamin-elson-appointed-executive-director?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-405004849" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1966</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Dr. Benjamin Elson Appointed Executive Director</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/24-elson-6138701-m_0.jpg?itok=HnI9-1_8" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-405004849"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/24_-_elson_6138701_m.jpg?itok=afRojE46" width="354" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Dr. Benjamin Elson Appointed Executive Director</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/resources/search/contributor/elson-benjamin-f">Dr. Benjamin Elson</a> becomes Executive Director of SIL. Elson had attended SIL's summer linguistics courses at the University of Oklahoma in 1942 and joined the organization soon after. Along with his wife, Adele, Elson had been involved in linguistic research and language development with the <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/language/poi">Sierra Popoluca</a> community of Mexico from 1943-1953. The Elsons would frequently serve on the staff of a number of SIL training programs.</p> <p> </p> <p>Elson's Linguistic Creed, composed in 1987:</p> <p><i>We believe that language is one of God's most important gifts to man, and of all human characteristics, language is the most distinctly human and the most basic. Without language, culture and civilization would be impossible.</i></p> <p><i>We also believe that any language is capable of being a vehicle for complicated human interaction and complex thought, and can be the basis for a complex culture and civilization.</i></p> <p><i>Therefore, all languages deserve respect and careful study.</i></p> <p><i>As the most uniquely human characteristic a person has, a person's language is associated with his self-image. Interest in and appreciation of a person's language is tantamount to interest in and appreciation of the person himself.</i></p> <p><i>All languages are worthy of preservation in written form by means of grammars, dictionaries, and written texts. This should be done as part of the heritage of the human race.</i></p> <p><i>Every language group deserves to see its language in print and to have some literature written in it.</i></p> <p><i>Minority language groups within a larger nation deserve the opportunity of learning to speak, read, and write the national language.</i></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1966</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-19 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/townsends-visit-ussr?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-971946248" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1968</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Townsends Visit USSR</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/25-cam-elaine-ussr-1968-m_0.jpg?itok=L8OhNX3M" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-971946248"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/25_-_cam_elaine_ussr_1968_m.jpg?itok=iZwqPAES" width="263" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Townsends Visit USSR</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/wct/william-cameron-townsend">Cameron</a> and <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/elaine-mielke-townsendwidow-sil-international-founder-dies-age-91">Elaine</a> Townsend make the first of eleven trips to the Soviet Union. Cameron Townsend wrote his observations of multilingual education in the region in his 1972 book, <i>They Found a Common Language: Community Through Bilingual Education.</i></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1968</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-20 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/international-linguistics-center?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1460076682" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1971</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">International Linguistics Center</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/ilc_1971_-_just_land_thumbnail.jpg?itok=S2HkHEK3" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1460076682"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/ilc_1971_and_1995_ps_square.jpg?itok=Ng9_yiQC" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">International Linguistics Center</h4> <p>In 1971, SIL purchases one hundred acres in southwest Dallas, Texas, USA for the future location of SIL International's headquarters. In time, the International Linguistics Center (ILC) would also provide office space for partner organizations, as well as classrooms and administrative space for academic training (first Texas SIL and later the <a href="https://diu.edu/">Dallas International University</a>).</p> <p><em style="line-height: 1.5;">Top: Land purchased for the future ILC shown in a 1971 aerial photo.</em></p> <p><em>Bottom: By 1995 the ILC includes four office buildings around a landscaped quadrangle, an RV park and meeting room for seasonal volunteers, a dormitory for students and visitors, a dining hall, a swimming pool and extensive hiking trails showcasing the unique escarpment landscape.</em></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1971</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-21 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/year-round-linguistics-training-dallas-texas?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1180187213" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1972</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Year-Round Linguistics Training in Dallas, Texas</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1180187213"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Year-Round Linguistics Training in Dallas, Texas</h4> <p>The first year-round linguistics training program begins at the newly-established International Linguistics Center in Dallas, Texas, USA.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1972</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-22 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/ramon-magsaysay-award?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1434022581" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1973</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Ramon Magsaysay Award</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/copy_1973_philippines_-_magsaysay_award_medal_main_for_timeline2_copy_copy.png?itok=HAn3U5vl" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1434022581"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1973_philippines_-_magsaysay_award_medal_main_for_timeline2.png?itok=1q65b3M-" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Ramon Magsaysay Award</h4> <p>SIL receives the <a href="https://www.sil.org/asia/philippines/magsaysay_award.html">Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding</a> "in recognition of its inspired outreach to nonliterate tribes people, recording and teaching them to read their own languages and enhancing their participation in the larger community of man."</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1973</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-23 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/dr-frank-robbins-becomes-sil-executive-director?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1796996060" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1976</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Dr. Frank Robbins becomes SIL Executive Director</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/frank_2.png?itok=d6yCJfj0" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1796996060"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/frank_2.jpg?itok=eL7tinx4" width="229" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Dr. Frank Robbins becomes SIL Executive Director</h4> <p>The SIL International Board appoints Dr. Frank Robbins as SIL Executive Director.</p> <p>Robbins joined SIL International in 1950 then went to Mexico with his wife Ethel where they served among the Quiotepec Chinantec in the state of Oaxaca. Frank was soon selected by his colleagues to direct the work of SIL in Mexico. He eventually became Director of the SIL summer training program at the University of Oklahoma, serving alongside Dr. Kenneth L. Pike.</p> <p>In 1972, he and Ethel moved to Dallas, Texas. He became Vice-President of Academic Affairs, helped establish the Texas SIL school, and developed a productive relationship with the linguistics department and the President of the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1976, he became the International Executive Director of SIL International and Wycliffe International, serving until 1983.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1976</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-24 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/first-portable-computer-linguistic-fieldwork?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1079070911" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1976</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">First Portable Computer for Linguistic Fieldwork</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/computer_thumbnail2.jpg?itok=AYrzSiuG" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1079070911"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/simons_collage3.5.jpg?itok=ln7rUqPi" width="309" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">First Portable Computer for Linguistic Fieldwork</h4> <p>Frank Robbins is appointed SIL's Executive Director for the next eight years.</p> <p>Two SIL staff members receive a research grant and recognition for the first portable computer designed to use in linguistic field work.</p> <p>Well before the personal computer became a commodity item, two SIL staff acted on their dream of using one in linguistic field work. <a href="https://www.sil.org/resources/search/contributor/grimes-joseph-e">Dr. Joseph Grimes</a> (then also serving as a linguistics professor at Cornell University) and <a href="https://www.sil.org/biography/gary-f-simons">Gary Simons</a>, a Ph.D. student of Grimes minoring in Computer Science, concluded that a computer would be needed to support Simons’ field research for his dissertation. Grimes and Simons applied for and were awarded funding for the project. Bill Hemsath, an engineer working in Cornell’s Psychology lab, built the computer to their specifications. Gary and Linda Simons then used the machine to collect and analyze language data while conducting language surveys in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (1976-1977).</p> <p>The ETP-8L (Electronic Text Processor — 8-bit, Low Power) had an Intel 8080 processor, 16K memory (at a cost of $100 per K at the time of production). It had a five inch CRT display (eight lines of text, thirty-two characters across). This was all housed within a waterproof case. Data was stored at 300 bits per second on cassette tapes with a portable cassette recorder.</p> <p>This cutting-edge project was funded by a research grant from the National Science Foundation. The Linguistics program of NSF chose this project as their project of the year and included it in NSF’s annual report to the United States Congress in 1977.</p> <p>In 2010, Dr. Gary Simons is<a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/sil-announces-first-chief-research-officer"> appointed SIL's first Chief Research Officer</a>.</p> <p><i>Clockwise, from bottom left: Gary </i><i>Simons and Bill Hemsath with the finished machine,</i><i> </i><i>introducing the computer to a multi-generational gathering in the Solomon Islands, </i><i>carrying the computer into a remote field site,</i><i> </i><i>Linda Simons enters data, Gary Simons and a Solomon Islands colleague use the machine to collect and review language data, Simons hikes to the administrative center on Santa Cruz Island (Solomon Islands) to tap into the nearest power source.</i></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1976</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-25 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/unesco-international-reading-association-literacy-prize?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1822743065" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1979</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/1979_sil_receives_unesco_literacy_award_-_timeline_thumbnail2.png?itok=rQPP3E-C" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1822743065"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/1979_sil_receives_unesco_literacy_award_0.jpg?itok=ALAs-P-a" width="400" height="244" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize</h4> <p>SIL receives the UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize for literacy work in Papua New Guinea.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1979</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-26 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/pike-nominated-nobel-prize?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-571154795" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1982</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Pike Nominated for Nobel Prize</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/34-makkai-pike-1982-nobel.jpg?itok=ARfo5qAv" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-571154795"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/34_-_makkai_pike_1982_nobel_m.jpg?itok=fCkNsuRz" width="377" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Pike Nominated for Nobel Prize</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike" target="_blank">Dr. Ken Pike</a> (right) receives the first of fifteen nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1982</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-27 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/william-cameron-townsend-dies?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1997474320" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1982</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">William Cameron Townsend Dies</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/35-townsend-in-woods-2-m.jpg?itok=lTIXyBf_" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1997474320"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/35_-townsend_in_woods_2_m.jpg?itok=iArtZegK" width="211" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">William Cameron Townsend Dies</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/wct/william-cameron-townsend" target="_blank">William Cameron Townsend</a>, founder of SIL, dies 23 April at the age of 85.</p> <p>Known to many as Uncle Cam, Townsend was a champion of the cultural dignity of the world's ethnolinguistic minority communities and inspired hundreds of young linguistic trainees to become involved in research and language development.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1982</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-28 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/dr-john-bendor-samuel-appointed-sil-executive-director?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-646343209" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1984</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Dr. John Bendor-Samuel appointed SIL Executive Director</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/jbs_thumb_0.png?itok=WRV4jmvz" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-646343209"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/jbs.jpg?itok=PWyEpsZ4" width="183" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Dr. John Bendor-Samuel appointed SIL Executive Director</h4> <p>Dr. Bendor-Samuel becomes the SIL Executive Director.</p> <p>Bendor-Samuel received a Ph.D. in Linguistics from London University in 1958. His long and distinguished career with SIL International began in administration with the SIL training school near London in 1954. His overseas work started in Peru where he worked as a linguist/translator in 1955 and in 1958 he began linguistic and translation work in Brazil. However, in 1962, Dr. Bendor-Samuel launched his instrumental work in West Africa, paving the way for SIL to begin language development and Bible translation work there. He helped found the West Africa Linguistic Society, and served as Editor of the <i>Journal of West African Languages</i> from 1982-1994. He led SIL’s work in Africa from 1971 to 1983.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1984</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-29 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-celebrates-fifty-years-language-development?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-688246351" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1984</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Celebrates Fifty Years of Language Development</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/50th_logo_main_for_timeline2_0_4_copy_copy.png?itok=rp1VlO72" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-688246351"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/50th_logo_main_for_timeline2_0_1.png?itok=SteUiSuv" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Celebrates Fifty Years of Language Development</h4> <p>SIL marks 50 years of partnership with the world's ethnolinguistic minority communities. The number of communities partnering in language development with SIL exceeds 1,000.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1984</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-30 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/worldwide-sil-academic-training?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-487419150" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1988</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Worldwide SIL Academic Training</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/80s_academic_training_-_thumbnail4.png?itok=F7_NQaDL" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-487419150"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/80s_academic_training_-_timeline_main4.jpg?itok=7PIq3wZN" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Worldwide SIL Academic Training</h4> <p>Although this is the last year for SIL courses at the University of Oklahoma, SIL academic training is offered in several USA locations (North Dakota, Oregon and Texas) and around the globe. International locations include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK.</p> <p>Learn more about training opportunities: <a href="https://www.sil.org/training">SIL Academic Training</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike"><i>Dr. Kenneth L. Pike</i></a><i> and a student, from the cover of the 1987 course catalog of what was then known as the </i><a href="https://www.sil.org/program/canil"><i>Canadian Summer Institute of Linguistics</i></a><i>.</i></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1988</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-31 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/development-shell-books?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1069231418" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1989</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Development of Shell Books</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/shellbook_english-pidgin_as0019_birdparadise_p2-3.jpg?itok=6T1pn31b" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1069231418"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/shellbook_english-pidgin_as0019_birdparadise_p2-3_0.jpg?itok=owpZk6Dw" width="389" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Development of Shell Books</h4> <p>The "Shell Book" concept is developed in Papua New Guinea. A basic book format, often incorporating the work of local artists, is developed with room for text, which is added later. In this way, the same book can be adapted for use by many different language groups for literacy and multilingual education.</p> <p>Learn more about SIL's involvement in <a href="https://www.sil.org/literacy-and-education">literacy and education</a>.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1989</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-32 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/steve-sheldon-becomes-sil-executive-director-0?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1893203210" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1992</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Steve Sheldon becomes SIL Executive Director</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/screen_shot_2018-04-17_at_2.25.33_pm_copy.png?itok=_-p05ljP" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1893203210"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/screen_shot_2018-04-17_at_2.25.33_pm.png?itok=r7TqL92z" width="223" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Steve Sheldon becomes SIL Executive Director</h4> <p>The SIL International Board appoints Steve Sheldon SIL Executive Director.</p> <p>Sheldon and his wife Linda were translators in Brazil, living among the Múra-Pirahã people for twelve years. Sheldon was the Director of SIL in Brazil before they moved to Dallas, TX where he was Vice President for Administration for five years before accepting this appointment.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1992</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-33 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/unesco-consultative-status-vernacular-media-services?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-772727404" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1992</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">UNESCO Consultative Status; Vernacular Media Services</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/unesco_logo_bw_en_1.png?itok=lXZhx1cp" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-772727404"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/unesco_logo_bw_en_1_0.png?itok=8I5__lPR" width="358" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">UNESCO Consultative Status; Vernacular Media Services</h4> <p>UNESCO grants Consultative Status to SIL, enhancing SIL's ability to serve in <a href="/partners-language-development#node-56" target="_blank">advocacy</a> for the world's ethnolinguistic minority communities.</p> <p>Around the world, SIL works in <a href="/partners-language-development#node-58" target="_blank">partnership</a> with communities, government agencies and other NGOs.</p> <p>Vernacular Media Services becomes an official SIL service located in Waxhaw, North Carolina, USA.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1992</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-34 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/release-lingualinks-10?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-378274508" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1996</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Release of LinguaLinks 1.0</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/lingualinks_screen_shot_-_thumbnail.jpg?itok=QnS-xsLU" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-378274508"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/lingualinks_screen_shot_-_early_early_version.jpg?itok=enq0Q45w" width="304" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Release of LinguaLinks 1.0</h4> <p>SIL software developers release the first official version of <i>LinguaLinks. </i>The software suite offers an integrated set of tools designed to facilitate efficient and consistent data collection and analysis for personnel involved in language and culture-related fieldwork.</p> <p>Version 1.0 includes:</p> <ul> <li>A library of language and culture resources - topics include anthropology, language learning, literacy and sociolinguistics</li> <li>Word analysis tools for use with texts</li> <li>Lexical database management tools</li> </ul> <p>SIL continues to develop innovative software solutions for language and culture description and documentation. Learn more about SIL's work in technology development: <a href="https://www.sil.org/resources/software">SIL Software</a>.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1996</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-35 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/launch-silorg-0?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-771928859" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1996</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Launch of SIL.org</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/1996_sil_website_screen_shot_logo_-_thumbnail.jpg?itok=xvGIb_tO" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-771928859"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/sil.org_main.jpg?itok=oLrfLYfc" width="358" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Launch of SIL.org</h4> <p>As organizations begin to take advantage of the communicative possibilities of the Internet, SIL launches its public website. SIL.org provides access to information about linguistics and about SIL's language development work.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1996</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-36 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/ecosoc-consultative-status?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-818003695" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">1997</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">ECOSOC Consultative Status</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/ecosoc_logo_thumbnail2.jpg?itok=8GE8GqjB" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-818003695"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/ecosoc_logo_square.jpg?itok=Gv72Tk7K" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">ECOSOC Consultative Status</h4> <p>SIL is given Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), allowing SIL to designate official representatives to UN headquarters in New York and UN offices in Geneva and Vienna.</p> <p>SIL serves as an <a href="/partners-language-development#node-56" target="_blank">advocate</a> for ethnolinguistic communities, assisting them in raising awareness of their needs to governments, organizations and individuals whose policies and practices can promote and facilitate language development.</p> <p>Learn more about the work of SIL's <a href="/international-relations" target="_blank">Office of International Relations</a> and the high value SIL places on <a href="/partners-language-development#node-58" target="_blank">partnerships</a>.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">1997</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-37 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/dr-kenneth-l-pike-dies?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-657905924" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2000</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Dr. Kenneth L. Pike Dies</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/43-ken-pike-m_0.jpg?itok=kUjSXX1p" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-657905924"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/43_-_ken_pike_m.jpg?itok=15A3heBv" width="342" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Dr. Kenneth L. Pike Dies</h4> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/klp/kenneth-l-pike" target="_blank">Dr. Kenneth L. Pike</a>, who served for many years as the President and President Emeritus of SIL, dies 31 December at the age of 88.</p> <p>Pike was among the first students to attend the summer courses in linguistics organized by <a href="/resources/search/contributor/townsend-william-cameron" target="_blank">William Cameron Townsend</a> in the 1930s. Following his initial linguistics training, he began fieldwork with the Mixtec community in Oaxaca, Mexico. In early years he sometimes collaborated on research with his sister, <a href="/about/news/eunice-pike-and-eugene-nida-remembered1/pike-nida-remembered.htm" target="_blank">Eunice Pike</a>, who was involved in language development with another community in the region.</p> <p>Pike served on the faculty of several academic institutions and was recognized for significant contributions to the field of language and culture research. A prolific writer, his notable works include <i>Phonemics: A technique for reducing languages to writing</i> and <i>Language in Relation to a Unified Theory of the Structure of Human Behavior</i>.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2000</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-38 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/dr-john-watters-appointed-sil-executive-director-0?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-131241157" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2000</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Dr. John Watters appointed SIL Executive Director</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/johnwatters15.png?itok=5U61tBBr" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-131241157"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/johnwatters15.jpg?itok=CggrUpwP" width="400" height="267" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Dr. John Watters appointed SIL Executive Director</h4> <p>The SIL International Board appoints Dr. John R. Watters as Executive Director.</p> <p>Watters and his wife Kathie have done linguistic fieldwork and consultation in Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad. Watters taught linguistics at the University of California at Los Angele (UCLA) and the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon. The Watters worked with various speakers of the Ejagham language community in Cameroon from 1974-1989. The Watters carried out linguistic research and Dr. Watters received his PhD in Linguistics from UCLA in 1981. Based on linguistic research, they helped the Ejagham produce various educationa and cultural booklets. They also helped the churches translate the New Testament into Ejagham. The New Testament was dedicated in 1997. Watters was the SIL Africa Area Director from 1989 to 1999.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2000</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-39 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/release-fieldworks-software-suite?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1527789873" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2002</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Release of FieldWorks Software Suite</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1527789873"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Release of FieldWorks Software Suite</h4> <p><em>FieldWorks 1.0</em> is released. The initial version of the program includes <em>WorldPad,</em> a word processing program with the ability to use complex scripts and a <em>Data Notebook </em>with list editor function for compiling language and culture research.</p> <p>Development of <em>FieldWorks</em> continues.<br /> <br /> <a href="/resources/software_fonts/flex" target="_blank">Click here to learn more about <em>FieldWorks </em>and download the latest version.</a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2002</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-40 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/unesco-and-sil-initiate-joint-effort-multilingualism-cyberspace?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1105317509" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2003</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">UNESCO and SIL Initiate Joint Effort for Multilingualism in Cyberspace</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/sil_and_unesco_staff_thumbnail_0.jpg?itok=ANYKyktn" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1105317509"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/sil_and_unesco_staff_0.jpg?itok=l-4xPWov" width="337" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">UNESCO and SIL Initiate Joint Effort for Multilingualism in Cyberspace</h4> <p>Representatives from UNESCO and SIL <a href="/about/news/unesco-and-sil-initiate-joint-effort-promote-multilingualism-cyberspace" target="_blank">initiate plans for a joint project to promote multilingualism on the Internet</a> during meetings held 20-22 January.</p> <p>Technology for redendering complex scripts such as SIL's <a href="http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=projects&item_id=graphite_home" target="_blank"><em>Graphite</em></a> are a key factor in making computing techologies accessible to people from all language communities.</p> <p>"It's really great to see the enthusiasm of the SIL team here. With partners like you we can go a long way toward achieving these goals."</p> <p>-Paul G. C. Hector, UNESCO Information Society Division member.</p> <p><span size="-1"><em>Left to right: Jesse Johnston (SIL International Relations Officer), Paul Frank (SIL Vice President for Academic Affairs), Davide Storti (UNESCO Information Society Division member), Paul G. C. Hector (UNESCO Information Society Division member), David Pearson (SIL Representative to UNESCO)</em></span></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2003</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-41 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-linguist-introduces-new-phonetic-symbol?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1561001943" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2005</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Linguist Introduces New Phonetic Symbol</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/labiodental_flap_ipa_symbol_thumb.jpg?itok=HLsVzP4y" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1561001943"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/labiodental_flap_ipa_symbol.jpg?itok=UvvGUxoe" width="325" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Linguist Introduces New Phonetic Symbol</h4> <p>A new phonetic symbol, the <a target="_blank" href="/about/news/sil-linguist-successfully-proposes-new-phonetic-symbol">labiodental flap</a>, is proposed by SIL linguist <a target="_blank" href="/biography/ken-olson">Dr. Ken Olson</a> and accepted by the International Phonetic Association for inclusion in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a standard for representing the sounds of the world's spoken languages.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2005</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-42 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/digital-voice-all-sil-world-summit-information-society?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1884847004" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2005</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">A Digital Voice for All: SIL at World Summit on the Information Society</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/nko_worldpad_thumbnail.jpg?itok=Yzqr-FqK" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1884847004"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/nko_worldpad_main.jpg?itok=Av6AgDmw" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">A Digital Voice for All: SIL at World Summit on the Information Society</h4> <p>"We are closer than ever to the day when commonly available computers will be able to work with all of the world's languages; when all languages will have a digital voice."</p> <p>- Dennis Drescher, SIL senior software developer</p> <p>At the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia, SIL releases a package of free, open-source software.* The package includes <em><a target="_blank" href="/resources/software_fonts/graphite">Graphite</a></em>, a font rendering engine which has been added to applications including <i>Firefox</i>, <i>Thunderbird</i> and <i>OpenOffice</i>. This breakthrough technology allows languages with complex scripts to be typed with a standard keyboard, making it possible for speakers of languages with complex scripts to write and publish content in their own languages. This development represents an important milestone in the process of making technology accessible to all of the world’s language communities.</p> <p>SIL staff presented the software during session two of the WSIS Round Table, an event sponsored by New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) under the auspices of the African Union. While the initial focus of SIL's presentation "A Digital Voice for All" was on Africa, the session addressed global issues affecting everyone.</p> <p><em style="line-height: 1.5;">The script used for the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=nqo">N'Ko</a> language of West Africa is written from right to left, one of many factors that lead to complexity in script engineering and find an answer in technologies like</em><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> Graphite.</span><em style="line-height: 1.5;"> The</em><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a target="_blank" href="http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=wrSys_detail&uid=k5wjukw2gz" style="line-height: 1.5;">Conakry N'Ko Font</a><em style="line-height: 1.5;"> is available for free download from SIL's </em><a target="_blank" href="http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php" style="line-height: 1.5;">ScriptSource<em>.</em></a></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">*The package includes the Keyboard Mapper for Linux, a set of smart fonts, </span><i style="line-height: 1.5;">Graphite </i><span style="line-height: 1.5;">and various </span><i style="line-height: 1.5;">Graphite</i><span style="line-height: 1.5;">-enabled applications, all free and open source.</span></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2005</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-43 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/anniversary-celebrations-pacific-and-south-america?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-194039319" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2006</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Anniversary Celebrations in the Pacific and South America</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/6_school_kids_thumbnail_2.png?itok=BsvexPmk" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-194039319"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/png_stamps.jpg?itok=3X5HqsgJ" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Anniversary Celebrations in the Pacific and South America</h4> <p>The government of Papua New Guinea creates <a href="/about/news/six-papua-new-guinea-postage-stamps-commemorate-sil’s-service" target="_blank">a set of commenmemorative stamps</a> celebrating SIL's <a href="/about/news/papua-new-guinea-celebrates-50-years-language-development" target="_blank">fifty years of language development</a> in the Pacific island nation.</p> <p>In Peru, SIL celebrates <a href="/about/news/sil’s-60-years-service-peoples-peru-celebrated-lima" target="_blank">sixty years of language development</a>. <span>The National Congress of Peru honors SIL Peru by passing a congressional motion: "To salute and congratulate the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) on the 21st of September 2006, the day of the Sixtieth Anniversary of its creation." </span></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2006</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-44 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-appointed-registration-authority-language-codes?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-849631870" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Appointed Registration Authority for Language Codes</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/iso_639-3.jpg?itok=2IVJs5mP" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-849631870"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/iso_639-3_0.jpg?itok=UVzlu0H4" width="400" height="245" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Appointed Registration Authority for Language Codes</h4> <p>SIL is appointed the registration authority of <a target="_blank" href="http://www-01.sil.org/iso639-3/">ISO 639-3</a>, the three letter codes identifying specific languages.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-45 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-contributes-unesco-literacy-and-education-publications?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1000896516" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Contributes to UNESCO Literacy and Education Publications</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/advocacy_kit_cover3.png?itok=9Yx2QdA3" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1000896516"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/advocacy_kit_cover3_main.png?itok=HSCmb7YD" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Contributes to UNESCO Literacy and Education Publications</h4> <p>The <a href="/literacy-and-education/advocacy-kit-promoting-multilingual-education" target="_blank"><i>Advocacy Kit for Promoting Multilingual Education: Including the Excluded</i> </a>is the result of a major partnership effort between UNESCO and SIL. </p> <p>The <i>Advocacy Kit</i> is a collection of five booklets that provides information and ideas for making education systems more responsive to communities that are not fluent in the language of schooling. Numerous education specialists and experts from inside and outside the Asia-Pacific region contributed their research findings and experiences in multilingual education.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-46 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/burkina-faso-awards-academic-laurels-literacy?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-314580389" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Burkina Faso Awards Academic Laurels for Literacy</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/burkina_faso_medal_-_new_thumbnail4.png?itok=ZJ1K77y8" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-314580389"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/two_award_photos_together_square2.jpg?itok=3NzyUcVk" width="276" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Burkina Faso Awards Academic Laurels for Literacy</h4> <p>During celebrations for International Literacy Day, Burkina Faso's First Lady Chantal Compaoré <a href="/about/news/burkina-faso-awards-chevalier-de-lordre-des-palmes-académiques" target="_blank">decorates two organizations with the<em> Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques </em>(Academic Laurels) for literacy</a>. Receiving the awards are Director André Aguila on behalf of SIL Burkina Faso and General Director Boureima Ouedraogo on behalf of ANTBA (Association Nationale pour la Traduction de la Bible et l'Alphabétisation).</p> <p>The awards recognize significant literacy contributions by each organization to minority languages in Burkina Faso. First Lady Chantal Compaoré sponsored the 18 September event and addressed those in attendance. The Minister of Literacy and Non-Formal Education was the main speaker.</p> <p><em>Left: General Director Boureima Ouedraogo of ANTBA (a regional partner of SIL) receives the award from First Lady Chantal Compaoré.</em></p> <p><em>Right: SIL Burkina Faso Director André Aguila, from France, receives the award on behalf of SIL.</em></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-47 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/hivaids-education-resources-released-papua-new-guinea?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1486941143" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">HIV/AIDS Education Resources Released in Papua New Guinea</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/nukna_celebration_of_booklets_-_thumbnail.jpg?itok=De5c00Z4" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1486941143"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/nukna_celebration_of_booklets_-_cropped.jpg?itok=IBDZeHtL" width="388" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">HIV/AIDS Education Resources Released in Papua New Guinea</h4> <p>SIL releases a booklet and DVD providing HIV/AIDS information in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The materials are designed to connect with the rural population and to be easily adapted for use in multiple languages. PNG has an estimated <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/country/PG" target="_blank">eight hundred living languages</a>.</p> <p><em>Men from one of PNG's many language communities celebrate the new HIV/AIDS materials now available in their mother tongue.</em></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2007</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-48 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/fredrick-boswell-becomes-sils-executive-director?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1402970785" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2008</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Fredrick A. Boswell becomes SIL's Executive Director</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/boswell_004_0.png?itok=RejnknAv" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1402970785"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/boswell_001_0.jpg?itok=uEqkB3y3" width="220" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Fredrick A. Boswell becomes SIL's Executive Director</h4> <p>Fredrick A. Boswell is appointed the next Executive Director for SIL International. Boswell has previously served SIL as Vice President for Academic Affairs, International Translation Coordinator and Entity Director for SIL Solomon Islands. </p> <p>Boswell worked as a field linguist and translation advisor with the <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/language/mrn" target="_blank">Cheke Holo</a> language community in the Solomon Islands on Central Santa Isabel Island. </p> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/fredrick-boswell-provides-leadership-new-sil-international-executive-director">READ MORE</a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2008</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-49 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/seventy-five-years-language-development?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-720566605" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2009</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Seventy-Five Years of Language Development</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/skewed_75th_logo_blue_block_thumbnail.png?itok=SUan8y2E" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-720566605"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/skewed_75th_logo_blue_block.jpg?itok=T1lB_azO" width="307" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Seventy-Five Years of Language Development</h4> <p>SIL marks seventy-five years of partnership with over 2,550 of the world's ethnolinguistic minority communities. SIL staff are currently involved in nearly 2,000 language development projects.</p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2009</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-50 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/launch-scriptsource?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-348056031" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2011</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Launch of ScriptSource</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/scriptsource_home_screenshot_-_thumbnail.jpg?itok=cq6IELyj" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-348056031"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/scriptsource_home_screenshot_-_main.jpg?itok=zoyUCGWz" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Launch of ScriptSource</h4> <p>SIL's <a href="/resources/script" target="_blank">Non-Roman Script Initiative (NRSI)</a> launches <em><a href="http://scriptsource.org" target="_blank">ScriptSource</a>. </em>This new website provides valuable information about the scripts and alphabets used to represent the world’s languages, as well as a platform for collaboration and development of software that supports these writing systems, such as fonts and input systems.</p> <p>“The launch of the new <em><span class="pubtitle">ScriptSource</span> </em>website is an important advance and is part of SIL’s contributions to language development around the world. <em><span class="pubtitle">ScriptSource</span> </em>not only allows us to better share our knowledge about the world’s languages, but provides a venue for others to also share their understanding of writing systems. Together with the <em><a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/"><span class="pubtitle">Ethnologue</span></a></em>, <em><span class="pubtitle">ScriptSource</span></em> allows researchers, teachers, and language community members to quickly locate vital information about languages. <em><span class="pubtitle">ScriptSource</span></em> is an invitation for every language to find its place in the digital world today.” <span style="line-height: 1.5;">- Chip Sanders, SIL International’s Director of Language Program Services</span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">On its launch day, </span><em style="line-height: 1.5;">ScriptSource</em><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> provides access to information on over 170 scripts used for the writing systems of thousands of languages. Font developers, linguists and others knowledgeable in the field of writing systems are invited to add to this content. Both well-documented scripts and those with little or no documentation are represented. </span><em style="line-height: 1.5;"><span class="pubtitle">ScriptSource</span></em><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> notes scripts in need of software development and invites others to add content to fill the knowledge gap. With an easy to navigate interface, the site invites users to access a variety of content. In addition to technical linguistic descriptions, visitors to the site will also find historical and cultural information. New content is moderated by the </span><span class="pubtitle" style="line-height: 1.5;">ScriptSource</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> editors.</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2011</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-51 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/release-two-new-sil-fonts?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-544548335" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2011</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Release of Two New SIL Fonts</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/annapurna_andika_samples_thumb3.png?itok=e8biEWAO" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-544548335"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/annapurna_andika_samples_for_timeline.jpg?itok=HVYKMlSN" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Release of Two New SIL Fonts</h4> <p>SIL’s <a href="/resources/script" target="_blank">Non-Roman Script Initiative (NRSI)</a> releases two new fonts<em>, </em>the latest in the department's efforts to produce computer implementations of <a href="http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=CmplxRndExamples" target="_blank">complex scripts</a> and quality fonts for literacy use.</p> <p><a href="/about/news/annapurna-sil-new-font-devanagari-script" target="_blank"><strong><em>Annapurna</em></strong></a><em> </em>is a font for the <a href="http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=script_detail&uid=hh3a985d52" target="_blank">Devanagari</a> script, which is used to write more than 120 <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/subgroups/indo-aryan" target="_blank">Indo-Aryan languages</a> of South Asia. The font is named for a section of the Himalayas in North Central Nepal. SIL has a <a href="/about/news/unesco-and-sil-initiate-joint-effort-promote-multilingualism-cyberspace" target="_blank">longstanding commitment</a> to developing software and fonts for technology applications that benefit the world's language communities. NRSI's vision is that language communities are effectively using their preferred writing system on computers without technical barriers.</p> <p>Phase three of the <em><a href="/about/news/andika-regular-phase-three-andika-literacy-font-project" target="_blank"><strong>Andika</strong></a><strong> </strong></em>literacy font project has a full set of over 4,800 characters, enabling its use for publishing literacy materials in the many languages around the world that use the <a href="http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=script_detail&uid=3d399g23bg" target="_blank">Roman</a> script. The easy-to-read, Unicode-compliant font is designed to accommodate the special needs of beginning readers.</p> <p><em>Samples of Annapurna (top) and Andika (bottom).</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2011</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-52 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/celebrating-new-and-longstanding-partnerships?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1055362481" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2011</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Celebrating New and Longstanding Partnerships</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/ethiopia_photo_2_thumbnail.jpg?itok=YilDtoQp" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1055362481"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/partnerships_group_main3.jpg?itok=b8svWQ28" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Celebrating New and Longstanding Partnerships</h4> <h3>Ethiopian Ministry of Education and SIL Ethiopia</h3> <p>On 23 August a new Memorandum of Understanding is signed by State Minister of Education Fuad Ibrahim Omer, on behalf of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Dr. Alemayehu Hailu, Director of SIL Ethiopia. This agreement formalizes the commitment to continued partnership between the Government of Ethiopia and SIL Ethiopia.</p> <p><a href="/about/news/ethiopian-ministry-education-and-sil-ethiopia-sign-cooperative-agreement" target="_blank">Click here</a> for details of the agreement.</p> <p> </p> <h3>SIL celebrates 60 years at the University of North Dakota</h3> <p>In 2011, SIL at the University of North Dakota (UND) celebrates its 60th year of linguistics courses, a relationship which began with UND’s invitation. This independent program is affiliated with the University of North Dakota’s College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School.</p> <p><a href="/about/news/linguistics-training-university-north-dakota-engaging-signed-and-spoken-languages" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more about SIL's academic training partnership with the University of North Dakota and the program's focus on signed languages.</p> <h3> </h3> <h3>New Academic Partnerships in Malaysia and Papua New Guinea</h3> <p>SIL is continually building new mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations and institutions around the world. In 2011, two new working partnerships for academic and professional cooperation were formalized with Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Papua New Guinea’s University of Goroka. These agreements are pathways to joint research, academic exchange and student development.</p> <p>For more on SIL's partnerships, see the <a href="/sites/default/files/reports/2011_english_annual_update_web_-_final.pdf#page=6" target="_blank">2011 Annual Update</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Top: </em><em><span class="caption"> State Minister of Education Fuad Ibrahim Omer (left) and </span></em><em><span class="caption">Dr. Alemayehu Hailu, Director of SIL Ethiopia (right)</span></em></p> <p><em>Middle: A group of SIL-UND faculty members and students </em></p> <p><em>Bottom: Signing of the University of Goroka agreement</em></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2011</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-53 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/fifty-years-language-development-africa?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1701577987" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2012</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Fifty Years of Language Development in Africa</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/sensaafi18cropedit_-_timeline_thumbnail.jpg?itok=I3QzlnO1" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1701577987"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/sensaafi18cropedit_-_timeline_main.jpg?itok=jLbLMfw1" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Fifty Years of Language Development in Africa</h4> <p>2012 marks <a href="/about/news/fifty-years-language-development-africa" target="_blank">the fiftieth anniversary of SIL’s service in language development in Africa</a>. Since the first cooperative agreement with the University of Ghana, SIL has been invited to partner with government agencies, educational institutions and local communities across the continent.</p> <p>During the past five decades, SIL personnel have contributed significantly to the research and documentation of African languages. Recent publications include <a href="/resources/publications/entry/8746" target="_blank"><em><span class="pubtitle">A Grammar of Akoose</span> </em></a>and <em><a href="/resources/publications/entry/42548" target="_blank"><span class="pubtitle">The Kifuliiru Language</span></a></em>. In 2005 SIL linguist Dr. Ken Olson successfully proposed <a href="/about/news/sil-linguist-successfully-proposes-new-phonetic-symbol" target="_blank">a new symbol for the International Phonetic Alphabet</a> to represent the labiodental flap, a previously undocumented speech sound found in central and southeastern Africa. SIL has been honored by the governments of the <a href="/about/news/central-african-republic-awards-chevalier-dans-lordre-de-la-medaille-de-la-reconnaissance" target="_blank">Central African Republic</a> and <a href="/about/news/burkina-faso-awards-chevalier-de-lordre-des-palmes-académiques" target="_blank">Burkina Faso</a> for contributions to language development.</p> <p><em>A teacher from the community leads a women’s literacy class in Senegal.</em></p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2012</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-54 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-philippines-celebrates-60-years-language-development?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-221620937" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2013</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Philippines Celebrates 60 Years of Language Development</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/philippines_60th_logo_-_timeline_thumbnail4.png?itok=v1lRUXC_" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-221620937"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/philippines_60th_logo_-_main3.jpg?itok=IRPuoj5K" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Philippines Celebrates 60 Years of Language Development</h4> <p><span>Since 1953, <span>SIL has served in partnership with communities, NGOs and government agencies in the Philippines. </span>In addition to <a href="/about/news/sil-linguist-honored-linguistic-society-philippines" target="_blank">linguistic research</a>, SIL's work includes support for <a href="/about/news/second-mother-tongue-based-multilingual-education-conference-philippines" target="_blank">multilingual education and mother-tongue literacy</a>. SIL Philippines operates <a href="http://www-01.sil.org/asia/philippines/ovw_libraries.html" target="_blank">research libraries</a> in Manila and Davao City.<br /> <br /> Read more about the history of SIL's work in the Philippines: <a href="/about/news/celebrating-60-years-partnership-philippines" target="_blank">"Celebrating 60 years of partnership in the Philippines."</a></span></p> <p><span>Visit the SIL Language & Culture Archives for <a href="/resources/search/country/Philippines" target="_blank">publications related to the languages and cultures of the Philippines</a>.</span></p> <p><span>Learn more about the languages of the Philippines from <em><a href="https://www.ethnologue.com/country/PH" target="_blank">Ethnologue: Languages of the World</a>.</em></span></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2013</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-55 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/new-websites-sil-international-and-ethnologue?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1068343883" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2013</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">New Websites for SIL International and Ethnologue</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/timeline_thumb_mew_websites.png?itok=Efwx5qgi" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1068343883"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/new_websites_for_sil_and_ethnologue_main_timeline_image_4.png?itok=ro1ArrTR" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">New Websites for SIL International and Ethnologue</h4> <p>In 2013 SIL introduced major redesigns of both SIL.org and Ethnologue.com.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sil.org" target="_blank">SIL.org</a> serves as SIL International's “Global Campus.” New and updated features include:</p> <ul> <li>An interactive map of the world’s languages</li> <li>Improved access to resources, including publications for purchase and the SIL Language & Culture Archives, with more than 32,000 citations</li> <li>Downloadable software and fonts for language development</li> <li>Expanded access to academic information on language development</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>The redesigned <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com" target="_blank">Ethnologue.com</a> provides access to all the language data, maps and charts. <a href="https://www.ethnologue.com/products">Click here</a> for information on subscriptions as well as purchase of three print volumes by area (Languages of Asia, Languages of Americas and Pacific, and Languages of Africa and Europe).</p> <ul> <li>Detailed profiles for every living language</li> <li>Updated reference information and statistics </li> <li>New vitality profiles for language, country, regional and global levels based on <a href="http://www.ethnologue.com/about/language-status" target="_blank">EGIDS</a></li> <li>Information on language development and language endangerment</li> <li>Interactive map graphics with mouse-over summaries</li> <li>The Ethnoblog</li> <li>A "Language of the Day" feature<br /> <br /> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2013</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-56 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-international-introduces-new-logo-0?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1183245161" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2014</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL International Introduces New Logo</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/sil_logo_tm_blue_2014_for_timeline_thumbnail_0.png?itok=RTe0lweG" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1183245161"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/sil-logo-main-history_0.png?itok=n3IkniU7" width="275" height="275" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL International Introduces New Logo</h4> <p>In the course of SIL's eighty-year history, the logo has been through several changes. The original logo reflected the organization’s roots in Mexico, honoring the country's rich linguistic and cultural heritage with images of the Aztec calendar and an Aztec king in a traditional style.</p> <p class="text-align-center"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/four_past_logos-horizontal-2.png" /></p> <p>SIL’s new logo continues the trend towards simpler design. Reflecting the growing popularity of mobile devices, the new logo was selected for its ability to display clearly on a small screen. With SIL.org serving as our global campus and access point for <a href="https://www.sil.org/resources">software, fonts and publications</a>, it was time to streamline the logo to meet the needs of advancing technology.</p> <p>Read more: <a href="/about/news/sil-international-introduces-new-logo" target="_blank">"SIL International introduces new logo."</a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2014</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-57 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/dr-michel-kenmogne-becomes-sils-executive-director?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-584205397" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2016</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Dr. Michel Kenmogne becomes SIL's Executive Director</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/michel2_0.jpg?itok=Sw4Z54_v" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-584205397"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/michel3.jpg?itok=seAqxkQv" width="400" height="267" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Dr. Michel Kenmogne becomes SIL's Executive Director</h4> <p>The SIL International Board appoints a Cameroonian, <a href="https://www.sil.org/biography/michel-kenmogne-phd">Dr. Michel Kenmogne</a>, to be its Executive Director. He brings a wealth of leadership experience and an extensive knowledge of linguistics and the importance of the mother tongue.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.sil.org/about/news/sil-appoints-first-non-western-executive-director">READ MORE</a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2016</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-58 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/pike-center-integrative-scholarship?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-2143097188" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2017</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">Pike Center for Integrative Scholarship</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/pike_center_logo.jpeg?itok=xCDp27WC" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-2143097188"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">Pike Center for Integrative Scholarship</h4> <p>Pike Center builds capacity by developing scholars and growing the needed bodies of knowledge. Our vision is to inspire sustained growth of the knowledge and people that will propel language development for generations to come. <a href="http://pikecenter.org">pikecenter.org</a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2017</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-59 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-lead-wins-prize-software-solution-shortage-books-children-disabilities?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-449571790" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2018</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL LEAD wins prize for software solution to shortage of books for children with disabilities</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/bloombookkidsa_2.jpg?itok=iR3vtMCe" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-449571790"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/page_9.png?itok=SiN7zxMt" width="400" height="225" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL LEAD wins prize for software solution to shortage of books for children with disabilities</h4> <p>(April 2018) SIL LEAD won a global competition, the Book Boost: Access for All Challenge, to spur innovation to optimize production of books for children who are blind or have poor vision. Organizations awarding the prize are—All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development (ACR GCD) and Pearson’s Project Literacy. SIL LEAD is one of two winners from a field of 15 proposals and will receive seed funding to implement and test their innovation.</p> <p><a href="/about/news/prize-books-children-disabilities">Read More >></a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2018</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-60 views-row-even"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-celebrates-100-years-partnership?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1366268028" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2019</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Celebrates 100 Years of Partnership</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/leaders2_0.png?itok=p_Adnfyj" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1366268028"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/leaders_0.png?itok=16tDTcvK" width="400" height="255" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Celebrates 100 Years of Partnership</h4> <p>A century ago, 21-year-old William Cameron Townsend, who would come to found SIL 15 years later, began studying the local Kaqchikel language of Guatemala. This decision to learn Kaqchikel was formed after he realized the many ways in which the community faced exclusion from daily opportunities for a better life due to language barriers. Over the last 100 years, this work that began alongside the Kaqchikel has expanded into multiple organizations and collaboration with thousands of communities worldwide. In November, representatives from SIL, the local community and many organization partners gathered in Antigua, Guatemala to celebrate this important milestone in the history of our shared language development efforts.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="/about/news/one-hundred-years-partnership-sil-retraces-its-historic-beginnings-and-allies-made-it-all">Read More >></a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2019</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-61 views-row-odd"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/sil-confronts-covid-19-local-language-communities?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-1986818602" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2020</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">SIL Confronts COVID-19 in Local Language Communities</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/facebookcampaigngraphics_page_08_image_0002.jpg?itok=FWWd0ndD" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-1986818602"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/facebookcampaigngraphics_page_08_image_0001.jpg?itok=wlGysnyy" width="400" height="271" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">SIL Confronts COVID-19 in Local Language Communities</h4> <p><meta charset="UTF-8" />(May 2020) At a time when staying informed is the best means to staying healthy, we all need access to clear and relevant information to protect ourselves and our communities. However, our research estimates that 30% of the world’s people do not have access to basic health information in their local languages, exacerbating an already dangerous crisis and risking further loss of life.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="/about/news/confronting-covid-19-local-language-communities">Read More >></a></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2020</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-62 views-row-even views-row-last"> <div class="timeline-line"></div> <div class="timeline-item"> <div> <span><a href="/history-event/new-name-90-sil-international-becomes-sil-global?width=50%25&height=50%25&inline=true#colorbox-inline-678611465" class="colorbox-inline" rel="gallery-history"><div class="views-field-field-hist-date"><span class="date-display-single">2024</span></div> <div class="views-field-title">A New Name at 90: SIL International becomes SIL Global</div> <div class="views-field-colorbox"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/hist_preview/public/history/90_years_twitter_post2_thumb_0.png?itok=NPedUPvL" width="225" height="100" alt="" /></div></a><div style="display: none;"><div id="colorbox-inline-678611465"><div class="timeline-popup"> <div class="col1"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/styles/history_colorbox/public/history/90_years_twitter_post2.png?itok=0cIUOvZj" width="400" height="225" alt="" /></div> <div class="col2"> <h4 class="popup-title">A New Name at 90: SIL International becomes SIL Global</h4> <p>As SIL marks its 90th birthday, we are pleased to announce our new name: SIL Global* (replacing SIL International). With this change, we honor the roots from which we serve and celebrate how we are changing. From its original establishment as a centralized organization registered in the USA, SIL is becoming a dynamic global community of locally-rooted organizations who, together with regional and global service units, are all committed to the shared vision of seeing people flourish in community using the languages they value most.</p> <p>Dr. Michel Kenmogne, SIL’s Executive Director, states, “Being locally rooted has a lot to do with reflecting the diversity of God’s family. For us in SIL, this means finding ways of growing deeper roots in the places we serve, making space for everyone and making sure all voices are heard — regardless of their place of origin.”</p> <div class="jumbotron"> <div class="content"> <h2 class="text-center"><small><strong>“Being locally rooted has a lot to do with reflecting the diversity of God’s family. For us in SIL, this means finding ways of growing deeper roots in the places we serve, making space for everyone and making sure all voices are heard — regardless of their place of origin.”</strong></small></h2> </div> </div> <p>SIL exists because of the sober reality that people around the world experience hardship and discrimination in part because of the languages they speak or sign. Yet it has been our joy, throughout our 90-year history, to work alongside local communities, together discovering language solutions to help overcome the challenging barriers in their lives. And while our name may be changing, our mission remains the same. Inspired by God’s love, we advocate, build capacity and work with local communities to apply language expertise which advances meaningful development, education and engagement with Scripture.</p> <p>Today, SIL Global’s combined workforce of more than 4,000 staff and volunteers serves 855 million people across 1,466 language communities in 109 countries. From humble beginnings in 1934 as a summer linguistics training program with two students to the global community we are becoming today, SIL Global remains committed to partnering with language communities to unearth how their languages can connect them to opportunities for flourishing, uphold their dignity and honor their unique place in the world.</p> <hr /> <p class="text-center"><small><cite>*SIL Global (formerly SIL International) is the new doing-business-as (dba) name of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc.</cite></small></p> </div> <div class="footer"><span class="date-display-single">2024</span></div> </div></div></div></span> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-edit-node"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </section> </div> </div> <footer class="footer"> <div class="footer-top"> <div class="container"> <div class="region region-footer"> <section id="block-panels-mini-sil-bootstrap-footer-menu" class="block block-panels-mini clearfix"> <div class="panel-flexible panels-flexible-new clearfix" id="mini-panel-sil_bootstrap_footer_menu"> <div class="panel-flexible-inside panels-flexible-new-inside"> <div class="panels-flexible-row panels-flexible-row-new-main-row panels-flexible-row-first clearfix footer-links"> <div class="inside panels-flexible-row-inside panels-flexible-row-new-main-row-inside panels-flexible-row-inside-first clearfix"> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_1 panels-flexible-region-first "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_1-inside panels-flexible-region-inside-first"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-block-276 pane-block footer-logo" > <div class="pane-content"> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/sil_logo_white.png" style="width: 100px; 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