Munro Sterling Edmonson (May 18, 1924 – February 15, 2002) was an American
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. Linguis ...
and
anthropologist
An anthropologist is a person engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropology is the study of aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms and ...
, renowned for his contributions to the study of
Mesoamerican languages
Mesoamerican languages are the languages indigenous to the Mesoamerican cultural area, which covers southern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize and parts of Honduras and El Salvador and Nicaragua. The area is characterized by extensive linguistic ...
and
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. W ...
n cultural heritage. At the time of his death in 2002, Edmonson was Professor (
Emeritus
''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...
) in Anthropology at
Tulane University
Tulane University, officially the Tulane University of Louisiana, is a private university, private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by seven young medical doctors, it turned into ...
,
.
Edmonson authored a 1971 edition of the
Popol Vuh entitled ''The Book of Counsel: The Popol Vuh of the Quiche Maya of Guatemala'' published by the
Middle American Research Institute
The Middle American Research Institute was established at Tulane University in 1924.
Mission
The Middle American Research Institute seeks to study and safeguard the culture and history of the areas of Mesoamerica and lower Central America. The Ins ...
(MARI) at Tulane University in New Orleans. His edition was the first to espouse the theory of multiple Popol Vuh manuscripts.
In February 2002 Edmonson died in New Orleans, at the age of 77 from an incurable
blood disease
Hematology ( always spelled haematology in British English) is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. It involves treating diseases that affect the produc ...
.
[Bricker (2003, p.682)]
Notes
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1924 births
2002 deaths
American Mesoamericanists
Mayanists
Mesoamerican anthropologists
Linguists of Mesoamerican languages
Linguists from the United States
Tulane University faculty
20th-century Mesoamericanists
20th-century American anthropologists
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