# Mark Turin

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**Mark Turin** (born 1973) is a British [anthropologist](/source/Anthropologist), [linguist](/source/Linguistics) and occasional radio broadcaster who specialises in the [Himalayas](/source/Himalayas) and the [Pacific Northwest](/source/Pacific_Northwest).

Turin was interim editor of the journal *[Pacific Affairs](/source/Pacific_Affairs)* from 2023-2024. He is an associate professor at the [University of British Columbia](/source/University_of_British_Columbia), cross-appointed between the Department of Anthropology and the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies.[1]

## Early life and education

Turin was born into an Italian-Dutch family, and raised in the United Kingdom and briefly in New York. His Italian father, Duccio Turin, was a [UN](/source/UN) diplomat and chief architect of the Palestinian refugee camps. His Dutch mother, Hannah Oorthuys, is a graphic designer and therapist, and the daughter of the photographer [Cas Oorthuys](/source/Cas_Oorthuys). Turin's half-brother is [Luca Turin](/source/Luca_Turin), a biophysicist and writer with a long-standing interest in bioelectronics, the sense of smell, perfumery, and the fragrance industry.

After attending [University College School](/source/University_College_School), and completing his undergraduate studies in Anthropology and Archaeology with First Class Honours from the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge) (1995), he completed his PhD at the [University of Leiden](/source/University_of_Leiden), graduating in 2006.

## Career

Mark Turin is an associate professor of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. His work is centered on Indigenous language endangerment, reclamation, and revitalization.

### Linguistics and Anthropology

For his doctoral research at the [University of Leiden](/source/University_of_Leiden) through the [Himalayan Languages Project](/source/Himalayan_Languages_Project), Turin worked collaboratively with the Indigenous [Thangmi](/source/Thangmi_language) (Thami) speaking community in Nepal and Northern India to create a grammatical description and lexicon of the previously undocumented language. This work resulted in a Nepali-Thami-English dictionary published in 2004[2] and a grammar of the Thangmi language published in 2012.[3] Turin’s interest in Himalayan culture and language took him to Bhutan, where he was one of three principal investigators on a five-year collaborative project to record and preserve the endangered [oral traditions](/source/Oral_tradition) of the nation.[4] He has also conducted research in the [Tibetan Autonomous Region](/source/Tibet_Autonomous_Region) of China and in the Indian state of [Sikkim](/source/Sikkim). Since 2015, Turin has worked in collaborative partnership with the [Heiltsuk First Nation](/source/Heiltsuk_Nation) through a Language Mobilization Partnership, of which the University of British Columbia is a member.[5]

### Policy and Practice

In 2007, Turin established and directed the Translation and Interpretation Unit in the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN),[6] a special political mission mandated by the UN Security Council to support Nepal’s peace process. Turin has occasionally worked as a consultant for the World Bank and the [International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development](/source/International_Centre_for_Integrated_Mountain_Development) (ICIMOD).

### Collaborative Research and Digital Humanities

Turin has been involved in many long term research projects and initiatives. In 2000, he co-founded the [Digital Himalaya Project](/source/Digital_Himalaya) as a platform for multimedia resources from the Himalayan region.[7] Turin directs the [World Oral Literature Project](/source/World_Oral_Literature_Project) which he established at the University of Cambridge in 2009. Since 2019, Turin has served as the [principal investigator](/source/Principal_investigator) for the Relational Lexicography Project, a framework and toolkit for collaborative, community-informed dictionary work with marginalized languages.[8] Turin is one of the project leads on a free interactive digital map of the languages of New York City, one of the most linguistically diverse metropolitan areas in the world.[9]

From 2013 to 2017, together with Sienna Craig, Turin served as editor of *Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies*. Turin's [BBC](/source/BBC) Radio 4 series, *Our Language in Your Hands*, aired in December 2012, and his second series, *On Language Location*, on the linguistic landscape of Bhutan and Burma/Myanmar aired in October 2014 on [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4) and in March 2015 on the [BBC World Service](/source/BBC_World_Service). Turin is founding editor of the World Oral Literature Series with the Cambridge-based [Open Book Publishers](/source/Open_Book_Publishers), which aims to preserve and promote the oral literatures of Indigenous communities in innovative, responsive, ethical and culturally-appropriate ways.

## Awards and accolades

Source:[10]

- 2023: Dean of Arts Mentorship Award from the University of British Columbia[11]
- 2021: Open Scholarship Award, Honourable Mention for the Digital Himalaya Project from the Canadian Social Knowledge Institute[12]
- 2020: Open Education Resource Champion / Leader in Open Learning from the University of British Columbia[13]
- 2019–2020: Wall Scholar Award at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, University of British Columbia[14]
- 2018–2019: Killam Faculty Research Fellowship, University of British Columbia[15]
- 2014–2016: Green College Leading Scholar at the University of British Columbia[16]
- 2013: Yvonne and Jack McCredie Fellowship in Instructional Technology for excellence and innovation in undergraduate teaching from Yale University[17]
- 2009: Associate Award for Anthropology from the [United Kingdom Higher Education Academy](/source/Advance_HE)[18]

## Publications

### Books

- Bendi Tso; Marnyi Gyatso; Naljor Tsering; Turin, Mark; and Members of the Choné Tibetan Community (2023). *[Shépa: The Tibetan Oral Tradition in Choné](https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0312)*. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers. ISBN 978-1-80064-801-2.
- Turin, Mark (2012). [*A Grammar of Thangmi with an Ethnolinguistic Introduction to the Speakers and their Culture*](http://www.brill.nl/languages-greater-himalayan-region-volume-6-grammar-thangmi-language-2-vols). Vol. 6. Brill's Tibetan Studies Library, Languages of the Greater Himalayan Region. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-15526-8.
- Evans, Christopher; Pettigrew, Judith; Kromchain Tamu, Yarjung; Turin, Mark (2009). [*Grounding Knowledge/Walking Land: Archaeological Research and Ethno-historical Identity in Central Nepal*](https://web.archive.org/web/20121002035906/http://www.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk/publications/monographs/excavation-reports/). Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. ISBN 978-1-902937-50-2. Archived from [the original](http://www.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk/publications/monographs/excavation-reports/) on 2012-10-02.
- Turin, Mark (2007). [*Linguistic Diversity and the Preservation of Endangered Languages: A Case Study from Nepal*](https://web.archive.org/web/20110726170330/http://books.icimod.org/index.php/search/publication/514). Talking Points. ISBN 978-92-9115-055-7. Archived from [the original](http://books.icimod.org/index.php/search/publication/514) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- Turin, Mark & Thami, Bir Bahadur (2004). [*Nepali – Thami – English Dictionary*](https://web.archive.org/web/20140221112356/http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/4838/guide/6560). Kathmandu: [Martin Chautari](/source/Martin_Chautari). ISBN 99933-812-4-1. Archived from [the original](http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/lang/4838/guide/6560) on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2012.

### Edited volumes

- 2023. Christine Schreyer & Mark Turin (eds.) (2023). ["Dictionaries: Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America: Special Issue on Indigenous Lexicography"](https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/51406)
- 2019. *The Politics of Language Contact in the Himalaya*. Edited by Selma K. Sonntag and Mark Turin. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers. [doi:10.11647/OBP.0169](https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0169)
- 2019. *Book 2.0: Year of Indigenous Languages*. 9 (1 & 2). Edited by Mark Turin & Mick Gowar.
- 2018. *Memory*. Edited by Philippe Tortell, Mark Turin and Margot Young. Vancouver, Canada: Peter Wall Institute and UBC Press.
- 2017. *Searching For Sharing: Heritage and Multimedia in Africa*. Edited by Daniela Merolla and Mark Turin. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers. [doi:10.11647/OBP.0111](https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0111)
- 2014. *Book 2.0: Digital Humanities*. 4 (1 & 2). Edited by Mark Turin & Mick Gowar.
- 2014. *Niko Thangmi Kham : Kaksha Nis (Our Thangmi Language : Class Two)*. Bir Bahadur Thami and Laxmi Basukala, edited by Mark Turin. Kathmandu: Educate the Children. Mother tongue primer for Thangmi-speaking children.
- 2014. *Perspectives on Social Inclusion and Exclusion in Nepal*, edited by Om Gurung, Mukta Singh Tamang and Mark Turin. Kathmandu: Central Department of Sociology / Anthropology, [Tribhuvan University](/source/Tribhuvan_University). ISBN 9789937524506.
- 2013. *After the Return: Special Issue of Museum Anthropology Review*, 7 (1–2). Edited by Joshua Bell, Kimberly Christen and Mark Turin.
- 2013. *Oral Literature in the Digital Age: Archiving Orality and Connecting with Communities*, edited by Mark Turin, Claire Wheeler and Eleanor Wilkinson. Cambridge: Oral Literature Series, Open Book Publishers. 190 pages. ISBN 9781909254305 & 9781909254312.
- 2011. *Himalayan Languages and Linguistics: Studies in Phonology, Semantics, Morphology and Syntax*, edited by Mark Turin and Bettina Zeisler. Brill's Tibetan Studies Library, 5. 323 pages. Brill: Leiden. ISBN 9789004194489 & 900419448 7.
- 2010. *Language Documentation and Description, Volume 8, Special issue: Oral Literature and Language Endangerment*, edited by Mark Turin and Imogen Gunn. London: Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project, Department of Linguistics, School of Oriental and African Studies. 175 pages. ISSN [1740-6234](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1740-6234).
- 2008. *Gaiko Thangmi Kham : Kaksha Di (My Thangmi Language : Class One)*. Bir Bahadur Thami and Laxmi Basukala, edited by Mark Turin. Kathmandu: Educate the Children. Mother tongue primer for Thangmi-speaking children.
- 2004. *Kesar Lall: A Homage on the Occasion of his Buraa Janko*. Edited by Corneille Jest, Tej Ratna Kansakar and Mark Turin. Kathmandu: Marina Paper. ISBN 9993389072.
- 2003. *Themes in Himalayan Languages and Linguistics* . Edited by Tej Ratna Kansakar and Mark Turin. Kathmandu: South Asia Institute (SAI) Heidelberg and Tribhuvan University. ISBN 9993354163.

### Media

- BBC Radio 4: *On Language Location* (October 2014)[19] - Part 1: Bhutan - Part 2: Myanmar
- BBC Radio 4: *Our Language in Your Hands* (December, 2012)[19] - Part 1: Nepal - Part 2: South Africa - Part 3: New York City
- 50 langues autochtones sur Google Earth – Radio-Canada Colombie-Britannique[20][21]
- [BBC World TV interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVUKl7r1BRc) (June 2013) Endangered Languages[20]
- [Vanishing Voices](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McF3CoVHbYM)[20]

## Further reading

- "[The Beckoning Silence](http://www.oralliterature.org/uploads/WOLP_Sindy.pdf)", by Paul Bignell, *The Independent on Sunday Magazine* 13 December 2009, pages 10–17.
- "[The Language Collector](https://www.oralliterature.org/uploads/WOLP_CAM_59.pdf)", *Cambridge Alumni Magazine* 59, pages 22–25.

## References

1. ["Mark Turin"](https://markturin.arts.ubc.ca/). *markturin.arts.ubc.ca*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. Turin, Mark & Thāmī, Vīra Bahādura (2004). *Nepālī-Thāmī-Aṅgrejī śabdakośa*. Cautārī pustaka śr̥ṅkhalā. 1. saṃskaraṇa ed. Kāṭhamāḍauṃ: Sāmājika Vikāsa tathā Anusandhāna Kendra. ISBN 978-99933-812-4-2.

1. Hill, Nathan W. (February 2013). ["Mark Turin: A Grammar of the Thangmi Language: with an Ethnolinguistic Introduction to the Speakers and Their Culture. (Brill's Tibetan Studies Library. Languages of the Greater Himalayan Region.) xxxvii, 958 pp. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2012. €169. ISBN 978 90 04 15526 8."](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0041977x12001656). *Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies*. **76** (1): 148–150. [doi:10.1017/s0041977x12001656](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0041977x12001656). [ISSN 0041-977X](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0041-977X)

1. ["Yale Himalaya Initiative shares grant to record, preserve ancient culture of Bhutan | Yale News"](https://news.yale.edu/yale-himalaya-initiative-shares-grant-record-preserve-ancient-culture-bhutan). *news.yale.edu*. 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Heiltsuk Language & Culture Mobilization Partnership"](https://heiltsuk.arts.ubc.ca). Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. Turin, Mark (2019-01-01). ["Translation and interpretation in the United Nations Mission in Nepal"](https://www.academia.edu/43418949). *Nepalese Translation*

1. ["Digital Himalaya: Home"](https://www.digitalhimalaya.com/). *www.digitalhimalaya.com*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Relational Lexicography – New Frameworks for Community-Informed Dictionary Work"](https://rel-lex.arts.ubc.ca/). Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Languages of New York City Map"](https://languagemap.nyc). *Languages of New York City Map*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Awards | Mark Turin"](https://markturin.arts.ubc.ca/awards/). *markturin.arts.ubc.ca*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["The 2023 Dean of Arts Mentorship Award Recipients"](https://www.arts.ubc.ca/news/the-2023-dean-of-arts-mentorship-award-recipients/). *Faculty of Arts*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Open Scholarship Awards | Electronic Textual Cultures Lab"](https://etcl.uvic.ca/open-scholarship-awards/). *etcl.uvic.ca*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Home Page"](https://champions.open.ubc.ca/). *Open Champion*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["About the Wall Legacy Fund"](https://walllegacyawards.ubc.ca/wall-legacy-fund/). *Peter Wall Legacy Awards*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Past Winners | Research Prizes"](https://prizes.research.ubc.ca/internal-awards/past-winners). *prizes.research.ubc.ca*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Our History | Green College"](https://greencollege.ubc.ca/our-history). *greencollege.ubc.ca*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Digital Innovations: Bringing the Classroom into the Archives | Yale University Library"](https://web.library.yale.edu/news/2014/06/digital-innovations-bringing-classroom-archives). *web.library.yale.edu*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Associate Fellowship | Advance HE"](https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/fellowship/associate-fellowship). *www.advance-he.ac.uk*. Retrieved 2025-04-08.

1. ["Mark Turin: BBC Radio Series: Nepal, South Africa, NYC, Bhutan, Burma"](https://markturin.arts.ubc.ca/bbc-series/). *markturin.arts.ubc.ca*. Retrieved 2021-08-24.

1. ["Professor Mark Turin's Media Coverage: Video, TV and Film"](https://markturin.arts.ubc.ca/videos/). *markturin.arts.ubc.ca*. Retrieved 2021-08-24.

1. ["Radio-Canada Colombie-Britannique - 50 langues autochtones sur Goggle Earth | Facebook"](https://www.facebook.com/icicolombiebritannique/videos/50-langues-autochtones-sur-goggle-earth/395897587706995/), retrieved 2021-08-24

## External links

- [Webpage at UBC](http://markturin.arts.ubc.ca)
- Turin, Mark (16 December 2012). ["New York, a graveyard for languages"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20716344). *BBC News*
- [Cambridge Ideas: Vanishing Voices Film](http://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/1072741)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mark Turin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Turin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Turin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.