But it was a hard struggle. Few of the books she needed were written in the Braille language that the blind could read by touching pages.

VOA: special.2011.08.07

Her mother,Katherine, had a deep knowledge of books, art and the French language.

VOA: special.2009.07.12

"As long as I can remember, it was animals,animals. Even before I could talk, I was watching earthworms and things, reading Doctor Doolittle books, wanting to learn the language of animals.

VOA: special.2009.11.18

David Crystal is a British linguist and author of over 100 books, including 2001's Language and the Internet.

VOA: standard.2010.01.16