Aurrera!: A Textbook for Studying Basque, Volumes 1

Acknowledgments

xv Acknowledgments I would like to thank the University of Nevada, Reno, for the sabbatical leave that allowed me to complete the manuscript for this book. This textbook would also have not been possible without the varied contributions of several people. In 1981, William A. Douglass hired me to work at the Center for Basque Studies (then called the Basque Studies Program), and that event launched my pursuit of Euskara. For that, I shall always be grateful to Dr. Douglass. More recently, Joseba Zulaika, former Director of the Center for Basque Studies, first encouraged me to organize my teaching materials for a four-semester correspondence course, and he later supported my request for a sabbatical that allowed me to revise the materials and finish writing a considerable amount of new text to incorporate into this book. Without his enthusiasm , this textbook would not exist. Before I could write the book, I had to learn the language, and in the early 1980s, Gorka Aulestia, professor of Basque language and literature, made the commitment to meet with me twice a week for private lessons over a period of two years. Later, as we worked together on the Basque-English English-Basque Dictionary, our lessons became less formal but were nonetheless ongoing for many years. One of his favorite sayings was “aurrera, beti aurrera,” meaning “onward, ever onward.” His words were the inspiration for the title of this textbook . Dr. Aulestia’s generous contribution of time and his personal dedication to the Basque language ensured that I would come away with my own love of Euskara, and for that I offer him my deepest gratitude. Over the years, many others have assisted me in practicing Euskara, but those who spent the most time at it were Jasone Astola Madariaga, Javier Cillero Goiriastuena, and Mariasun Landa Etxebeste. Their contributions to my Basque-language skills also made it possible for me to pursue a Ph.D. in Basque literature. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Nere Amenabar, who spent long xvi ackn owledgments hours proofreading much of the Basque-language material, and once again to Dr. Cillero Goiriastuena for his invaluable assistance in preparing this text for publication. They have contributed to all that is good in this text. As for any inaccuracies, the fault lies solely with me. Another colleague who also studied Euskara, Jill Berner, has been a consistent and encouraging friend and coworker throughout the long process of learning the language, teaching it, compiling materials, and finally producing a textbook. Kate Camino took over the teaching of the first-year Basque classes at a time when I needed to focus on the more advanced material, and her input, as she implemented early drafts in the classroom, has been invaluable . Mila esker denei. Also, a heartfelt thank-you to my editor and friend, Sara Vélez Mallea, who truly made this publication a reality. ...