David E. Watters
Encyclopedia
David E. Watters, Ph.D., was a Tibeto-Burman linguist and institute folklorist. He was adjunct faculty at the University of Oregon
, Eugene, Oregon
and was a visiting scholar at Tribhuvan University
from 2001 to 2006, Kathmandu, Nepal. Watters was the Director of the Oregon Summer Institute of Linguistics for four years, and was a member of SIL International
. Dr. Watters was considered an expert within his field, especially the Kham language
, and was widely published and cited. Amongst other research in 2007 at the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology
at LaTrobe University in Australia
, he was working on a grammar of Kaike language, comparative study of Kiranti languages
, and Himalayan languages in general a previously undescribed Tibeto-Burman language.
Watters, of Port Angeles, Washington
, holds a Diploma from Prairie Bible Institute, Canada, 1967; M.A. Degree, University of Oregon, 1996; Ph.D. University of Oregon, 1998.
Dr. David Watters died on May 18, 2009 of an unexpected heart attack. He had recently been freed of bladder cancer when a blood clot formed in his leg and traveled to his heart. He leaves behind wife, Nancy, and two sons, Stephen and Daniel who are also researching Tibeto-Burman languages, two daughter-in-laws and six grandchildren (Zach, Benjiman, Nathan, Kristina, Jesse, Maria). Dr. Watters had almost completed memoirs of his life, including his trials and adventures in the Himalayas, when he died.
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and was a visiting scholar at Tribhuvan University
Tribhuvan University
Tribhuvan University [त्रिभुवन विश्वविध्यालय] is a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest of the five universities in Nepal...
from 2001 to 2006, Kathmandu, Nepal. Watters was the Director of the Oregon Summer Institute of Linguistics for four years, and was a member of SIL International
SIL International
SIL International is a U.S.-based, worldwide, Christian non-profit organization, whose main purpose is to study, develop and document languages, especially those that are lesser-known, in order to expand linguistic knowledge, promote literacy, translate the Christian Bible into local languages,...
. Dr. Watters was considered an expert within his field, especially the Kham language
Kham language
Kham -- narrowly defined -- is a complex of Tibeto-Burman Magaric languages spoken natively in isolated highlands of Rolpa and Rukum districts of Rapti and the westernmost part of Baglung district in Dhaulagiri Zone by western clans of the Magar tribe, called collectively Kham Magar or Northern...
, and was widely published and cited. Amongst other research in 2007 at the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology
Research Centre for Linguistic Typology
The Research Centre for Linguistic Typology is a research institute originally founded in 1998 in the Australian National University by R. M. W. Dixon which then moved to LaTrobe University, Melbourne in 2000. It is an internationally recognized centre of research on fieldwork linguistics, Language...
at LaTrobe University in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, he was working on a grammar of Kaike language, comparative study of Kiranti languages
Kiranti languages
The Mahakiranti or Maha-Kiranti languages are a proposed intermediate level of classification of the Tibeto-Burman languages. They are the languages most closely related to the Kiranti languages proper, which are spoken by the ethnic Kirat...
, and Himalayan languages in general a previously undescribed Tibeto-Burman language.
Watters, of Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
, holds a Diploma from Prairie Bible Institute, Canada, 1967; M.A. Degree, University of Oregon, 1996; Ph.D. University of Oregon, 1998.
Dr. David Watters died on May 18, 2009 of an unexpected heart attack. He had recently been freed of bladder cancer when a blood clot formed in his leg and traveled to his heart. He leaves behind wife, Nancy, and two sons, Stephen and Daniel who are also researching Tibeto-Burman languages, two daughter-in-laws and six grandchildren (Zach, Benjiman, Nathan, Kristina, Jesse, Maria). Dr. Watters had almost completed memoirs of his life, including his trials and adventures in the Himalayas, when he died.
Awards
- 1997, UO Doctoral Research Fellowships
- Best Grandpa Award
- Best Story Teller
- Best Smiley Wrinkles
- Best Happiness