These notes will explore the significant role language plays in transmitting knowledge, especially within Indigenous societies. The concept of "grammar of animacy," as depicted by Robin Wall Kimmerer, will be unpacked, demonstrating how different languages can frame our understanding and perception of the world.

• Oral Tradition: This is the method of passing down knowledge, stories, and cultural values from one generation to the next through spoken word, rather than written documents. Think about how your grandparents might share stories from their childhood, effectively passing down family history and shared experiences. Oral tradition remains crucial in preserving Indigenous societies' knowledge and history.

• Grammar of Animacy: This is a language concept that Kimmerer discusses in the context of the Potawatomi language. It relates to the inherent life and spirit found within all things, which the Potawatomi language recognizes through verbs and its structure. To help visualize this, consider how we might describe a tree in English. We'd likely say, "The tree is tall." In Potawatomi, they might describe the tree as being or doing, reflecting its inherent life.

• Animacy: The quality of being alive or animated. In this context, animacy is the intrinsic life within all elements of nature, not just animals and humans. Think about how you might regard your pet dog as a living, feeling being, but a tree as an object. Animacy encourages us to see life in all things, including that tree.

• Language & Indigenous Knowledge: The role of language is emphasized as being the "heart" of Indigenous culture. It's not just a means of communication, but a vessel to carry their worldview. For instance, the word "Puhpowee" in the Potawatomi language is used to describe the force that causes mushrooms to grow overnight—a concept that Western science doesn't have a word for. The language we speak can limit or expand our understanding of the world.

• Language & Life: The Potawatomi language primarily uses verbs (70% of the language), signifying a world in motion, and respects the 'animacy' of the world. For example, the act of a bay being a bay is expressed as a verb, signifying the bay's life and actions, rather than treating it as a static noun.

• Language & Perception: Language shapes our perception. English, a noun-based language, often limits us to view things as objects or humans, with little in between. This can lead to a lack of respect for non-human life, facilitating exploitation. Think of how you might feel differently about cutting a tree down if you regarded it as a living being, rather than just an object.

• Language Learning: Learning a language such as Potawatomi might allow for a better understanding of Indigenous perspectives on the world, helping one to appreciate the interconnectedness of all life forms. However, Le Guin suggests that it's possible to learn these perspectives without knowing the language, provided we alter our thinking to view all things as interconnected.