First Words and Last Words: A Linguistic Biography

FAIN: FZ-287165-22

Michael Erard
Unaffiliated independent scholar

Research and writing of a book exploring the linguistic, historical, and cultural dimensions of first words spoken after birth and last words spoken before death.

With our earliest utterances and gestures, we announce ourselves — and are recognized — as people ready to participate in social life. With our final ones, we mark the place where others must release us to death’s embrace. My book explores these phenomena, which are commonly called "first words" and "last words," uncovering their hidden linguistic, historical, and cultural dimensions as well as honoring their deep personal meanings.