Colette Grinevald (born 1947) is a French

linguist Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Lingu ...

. She earned her PhD from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of highe ...

in 1975 and joined the newly created Linguistics department at the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc Nike, Inc. ( or ) is a ...

in 1977. Grinevald has written grammars of Jakaltek Popti' and

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bei ...

and advocates for endangered languages. She contributed to

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

's language vitality criteria developed in 2003. Grinevald serves on Sorosoro's scientific board.

Life

Grinevald grew up in

Algiers Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques d ...

, in what was then

French Algeria French Algeria (french: Alger to 1839, then afterwards; unofficially , ar, الجزائر المستعمرة), also known as Colonial Algeria, was the period of French colonisation of Algeria. French rule in the region began in 1830 with the ...

. She had recurrent tuberculosis as a young child. She married William Craig, then a medical student, while studying in Boston. The couple later divorced. Grinevald's children Matthias Craig and Guillaume Craig started a non-profit organization, Blue Energy.

Publications

* Jacaltec : The Structure of Jacaltec by Colette Grinevald Craig 1977, Austin : University of Texas Press

References

External links

Personal web page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grinevald, Colette 1947 births Living people Linguists from France Women linguists Harvard University alumni University of Oregon faculty