Languages and Dictionaries: Government Publications

The Bureau of American Ethnology published several dictionaries and bibliographies of Native American languages in their Bulletin (call number GOVPUBS. SI 2.3).  More can be found by searching the catalog for "Bureau of American Ethnology" and language?, but some examples in the Government Publications collection include:

• A dictionary of the Osage language
• Guaymí grammar and dictionary, with some ethnological notes
• An introduction to the study of the Maya hieroglyphs

The Foreign Service Institute published a number of foreign language learning materials, primarily in the 1960s and 70s (call number GOVPUBS. S 1.114).  More can be found by searching the catalog for "Foreign Service Institute basic course series", but some examples include:

• Swahili, an active introduction: general conversation
• Cambodian : basic course
• Russian; an active introduction

Two publications from the Arctic Studies Center (National Museum of Natural History) provide video lessons on basic language and culture of indigenous people groups of Alaska:

• Iñupiaq language and culture video lessons
• St. Lawrence Island Yupik language and culture video lessons

Voice of America - News service, funded by the US Government, that broadcasts in many languages

Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center - An institute in Monterey, CA, that provides foreign language training to members of the military and civilians in the federal government.  While onsite training is limited to these groups, many of their online language learning materials are available to anyone, such as the language learning modules in Global Language Online Support System (GLOSS)