Blair A. Rudes

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Blair A. Rudes
BornMay 18, 1951
Gloversville, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 16, 2008
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma materUniversity at Buffalo
(BA, MA, PhD)
Known forThe New World (2005)
The Ruins (2008)
Scientific career
FieldsLinguistics
InstitutionsUNC Charlotte

Blair Arnold Rudes (May 18, 1951 – March 16, 2008) was an American linguist and professor at the

Native American languages. He was hired in 2004 to reconstruct the long extinct Powhatan language for use in the film The New World.[1]

Early life and education

Blair A. Rudes was born on May 18, 1951, in

State University of New York at Buffalo, where he obtained a doctorate in linguistics
in 1976.

Career

Rudes became an assistant professor of English at the

New York Times.[3][4] At Rude's request, the movie studio made his work available to Algonquian tribes located in Virginia so that members could relearn their ancestral language.[1] His work additionally helped dispel a longstanding belief that the term "Chesapeake" meant "Great Shellfish Bay" in Powhatan.[1] Rudes discovered that in actuality, it probably means "Great Water".[1] Impressed by Rudes' work on The New World, director Carter Smith hired him as the Mayan Dialogue Coach for The Ruins.[3]

Personal life

Dr. Rudes was a polyglot, among the languages he could speak were French, German, Irish Gaelic, Italian, Russian, and Tuscarora.[2] He identified as a gay man and was predeceased by his companion, Philip Hunt.[3] He had two dogs, Heidi and Ben.[3]

Death

Rudes died of a heart attack on March 16, 2008, after working out at a gym in Charlotte, North Carolina.[5] At the time of his death, he was working on a three volume work titled "The Catawba Language" for the University of South Carolina Press.[5]

Awards

Dr. Rudes was the recipient of several honors. In 2006 he was recognized by the Tuscorora Indian Nation for his contributions to preserving their language and in 2007, the South Carolina General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the work he had done for the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs.[5] On April 5, 2008, he was posthumously awarded the University at Buffalo’s Distinguished Alumni Award.[5]

Selected bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i A Dead Indian Language Is Brought Back to Life, Washington Post, David A. Fahrenthold, December 12, 2006.
  2. ^ a b Whitford, Sarah (15 December 2011). "The Algonquian Language Reborn: An Interview with Blair Rudes". Coastal Carolina Indian Center. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Dr. Blair A. Rudes (1951-2008)". The Charlotte Observer. Newspapers.com. 30 March 2008.
  4. ^ Whitford, Sara (14 December 2011). "Obituary: Blair A. Rudes, PhD - Linguistics Advisor to CCIC". Coastal Carolina Indian Center. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Memorial: Remembering Our Friend, Blair A. Rudes – Linguistics Advisor to CCIC, 28 March 2008, accessed November 21, 2013.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blair_A._Rudes&oldid=1194063753"