Language is the foundation of human connection. It carries history, identity, and culture. But what happens when a language disappears? Who works to save it before it’s gone?
Dr. Esther Mi-Jung Park has spent more than two decades answering these questions. She is a linguistic anthropologist and cultural historian based in Toronto, Canada. Her work focuses on historical linguistics, ancient scripts, and cross-cultural communication. She has studied lost languages, worked with indigenous communities, and contributed to global language preservation efforts.
Her passion for languages started early. “I grew up fascinated by the way words change over time,” she says. “Each language tells a story, and I wanted to understand those stories.”
A Journey Through Language
Dr. Park was born in South Korea and later moved to the United States for her education. She earned her Ph.D. in Linguistic Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. There, she focused on the phonetic structures of early East Asian dialects.
Her research led her to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, where she documented endangered languages. “Some of these languages had never been written down,” she explains. “People spoke to them daily, but there were no records. If a language disappears, a whole way of thinking disappears with it.”
She worked closely with local communities to record oral traditions and linguistic patterns. “The most important thing is respect,” she says. “You can’t just collect data. You have to listen, learn, and give back.”
Deciphering the Past
Dr. Park’s research extends beyond spoken language. She is also an expert in ancient scripts. “Written language is like a time capsule,” she says. “It shows us how people thought, how they communicated, and what mattered to them.”
One of her most significant contributions is her study on the connections between ancient Korean, Mongolic, and Turkic languages. She co-authored a book on the subject, exploring how these languages share deep historical roots. “Linguistic ties can reveal forgotten histories,” she explains. “They show us how cultures influenced each other long before modern borders existed.”
Her work has been featured in academic journals and international conferences. She has also collaborated with UNESCO and the Smithsonian on language preservation initiatives. “It’s not just about saving old words,” she says. “It’s about preserving identities.”
The Future of Language Study
Dr. Park is currently an independent researcher and consultant. She advises projects related to AI-driven linguistic analysis and cultural identity in a globalized world. Technology, she believes, can play a role in saving languages.
“AI can help us analyze ancient texts faster,” she says. “It can also assist in translating endangered languages. But it will never replace human understanding.”
She sees a growing challenge in language loss due to globalization. “More people are speaking dominant languages like English or Mandarin,” she says. “That’s not a bad thing, but we have to make sure smaller languages don’t disappear.”
A Lifelong Passion
Beyond her work, Dr. Park enjoys studying ancient scripts, traveling to historic sites, and mentoring young researchers. “I love sharing knowledge,” she says. “The next generation will have tools we never dreamed of. But they’ll also have the same responsibility—to listen, learn, and preserve.”
For Dr. Park, language is more than just words. It’s history, identity, and a connection to those who came before. “When we lose a language, we lose a piece of ourselves,” she says. “That’s why this work matters.”
Read more:
Dr. Esther Mi-Jung Park: Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future of Language
