The Linguist’s Calendar: March 27

Larry Trask

March 27 

1869: The Société de Linguistique de Paris decides to publish a newsletter.
 
2001: Eight people die in Belgium’s worst railway crash for 25 years. Language difficulties are later shown to be the cause of the tragedy—a signalman had received warnings in French, but he himself spoke only Dutch.
 
2004: After a two-year illness, British-American historical linguist and Vasconist Larry Trask dies at the age of 59.