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BYU student's language abilities "translate" into $40,000 Javits Fellowship

Brigham Young University graduate student Danny Law recently received the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, worth more than $40,000, to be used toward his doctoral research.

Law, a student in the Department of Linguistics, also received admission to the University of Texas where he will study Mayan linguistics and hieroglyphic writing.

This opportunity for further study will allow Law to build on the knowledge he has gained as he has taken part in translation activities at BYU. For example, along with BYU student Robbie Haertel and BYU professor John Robertson, Law helped translate a portion of a 17th century manuscript, which was written in the ancient Ch’olti’ language.

A $25,000 donation from Ira and Mary Lou Fulton aided them in the translation of the ancient text, which had remained untranslated for more than 400 years.

The fellowship provides financial assistance to students with superior academic ability, exceptional promise and a financial need so that they can undertake graduate study.

Writer: Brian Rust

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