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Field Notes

Martha Tsutsui Billinslingfieldnotes.podbean.com
A podcast about linguistic fieldwork, where seasoned fieldworkers share their stories from the field.
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Episodes

Ep 20: Andrew Harvey & Richard Griscom on Teamwork in the Field

Today's episode is with Andrew Harvey and Richard Griscom from Leiden University. Andrew and Richard have just returned from their most recent field trip to Tanzania and in this episode, they discuss their current projects (documenting Gorwaa, Hadza, and Ihanzu) and teamwork in the field. Things mentioned in this episode: What if…? Imagining non-Western perspectives on pragmatic theory and practice by Felix Ameka & Maria Terkourafi Gorwaa language Hadza language Datooga language Ihanzu langu...

Jun 04, 202039 minSeason 2Ep. 20

Ep 19: Dreamtime Narratives & Language Sustainability with Dorothea Hoffmann

Today’s episode is with Dorothea Hoffmann, a documentary linguist who has worked in remote parts of Northern Australia with speakers of MalakMalak, Jaminjung , and Kriol. In North America, she has been involved in language revitalization projects for the Acoma , Ute , Stoney Nakoda , Ho-Chunk and Cowlitz tribes, and First Nations. She is affiliated with the University of Oregon as an Honorary Research Associate and also works as a Linguistic Project Manager for The Language Conservancy . In addi...

May 29, 202047 minSeason 2Ep. 19

Ep 18: Documenting Linguistic Avoidance in Datooga with Alice Mitchell

This week's episode is with Alice Mitchell , a Junior Professor at the Institute for African Studies at the University of Cologne in Germany. Alice holds a BA in German and Linguistics from the University of Oxford, an MA in Language Documentation and Description from SOAS, and a PhD in Linguistics from the University at Buffalo. Her research focuses on the Datooga language of Tanzania, where she has been conducting fieldwork since 2012. In this episode, Alice talks us through her work in Tanzan...

May 23, 202033 minSeason 2Ep. 18

Ep 17: Mary Walworth on Fieldwork with a Baby

Today's episode is with Mary Walworth from the Max Planck Institute . Mary is co-leader of the Comparative Oceanic Languages ( CoOL ) Project at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany. She received her MA and PhD from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa , where she focused primarily on documenting the understudied languages of French Polynesia. She specializes in the historical relationships of Oceanic languages, examining both direct relatedness and indirect, contac...

May 15, 202039 minSeason 2Ep. 17

Ep 16: Remote Fieldwork with Richard T. Griscom

This week's episode is with Richard T. Griscom, a post-doctoral researcher at Leiden University. Richard's research focuses on language documentation, fieldwork methodology, and functional-typological linguistic description and theory, with a special emphasis on the languages of East Africa. Over the past five years, he has been working with the Asimjeeg Datooga and the Hadzabe, both endangered minority language communities of northern Tanzania. Things mentioned in this episode: Firebird Foundat...

May 08, 202049 minSeason 2Ep. 16

Ep 15: Rethinking the ‘field’ in Fieldwork with Hannah Gibson

Today's episode is with Hannah Gibson, fellow SOASian and Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Essex. Hannah's research is primarily concerned with linguistic variation, particularly why and how languages change. Much of her work explores the syntax and semantics of the Bantu languages, with a focus on languages spoken in Eastern Africa. She has conducted data collection in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and the UK. In this episode, Hannah and I discuss her research, what her daily resear...

Apr 30, 202044 minSeason 2Ep. 15

Ep 14: Fieldwork in the Time of COVID-19 with Guillem Belmar

Today's episode is Guillem Belmar, a Linguistics PhD student at UC Santa Barbara. In this episode, we discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on fieldwork. This discussion was inspired by UCSB grad students who have started a group to share and debate online fieldwork, and this post on social media from Guillem, which urged fieldworkers to pause field trip plans in light of the pandemic. Things mentioned in this episode: Mixtec language family Coronavirus ‘could wipe out Brazil’s indigenous pe...

Apr 23, 202022 minSeason 2Ep. 14

Ep 13: Jeff Good on Facilitating Language Documentation in Cameroon

Welcome to Season Two! This is the first episode of Season Two on Field Notes. Although we are living in strange times and fieldwork is not currently possible due to the COVID-19, Field Notes will continue publishing weekly episodes this season to share information and experiences from the field which will hopefully benefit our listeners in the future (when fieldwork is possible again). Until then, hang in there, we are all in this together. This episode's guest is Jeff Good . Jeff is a professo...

Apr 16, 202049 minSeason 2Ep. 13

Ep 12: Miroslav Valeš on Fieldwork in the Americas & Spain

This week’s interview is the Season 1 finale with Miroslav Valeš (Technical University of Liberec). In this interview, Miroslav discusses his long and varied fieldwork career, and his experiences working with the Lakhota (USA), Shuar (Ecuador) and A Fala (Spain) communities. Content Warning: There is some sensitive material discussed in this interview, including traditional practices that some people may find disturbing. Things mentioned in this episode: Andalusian Spanish on Wikipedia Fala lang...

Jul 16, 201929 minSeason 1Ep. 12

Ep 11: Alex Garcia on Monolingual Fieldwork in The Philippines

Today’s episode is with Alex Garcia (University of Barcelona). Alex works with the Northern Alta Community in the Philippines. In this episode, Alex discusses how he started working with speakers of Nothern Alta, and how he learned Northern Alta in order to conduct monolingual fieldwork. Things mentioned in this episode: Alex's website Alex's data on Kratylos Alex’s Northern Alta deposit on ELAR "Monolingual Fieldwork" Demonstration - Daniel Everett (from LSA ) Alex's equipment: Zoom H4n audio r...

Jul 09, 201922 minSeason 1Ep. 11

Ep 10: Fieldwork Q&A with Vera Ferreira & Hugo Cardoso (Part 2)

Today's episode is part two of our Q&A episode with Vera Ferreira ( CIDLeS & ELDP ) & Hugo Cardoso (University of Lisbon). In this episode, we discuss questions from listeners such as "How can fieldworkers deal with the often tragic and uncomfortable circumstances in the field?", "How can we reduce our environmental impact in the field?" and "How to deal with difficult recording situations". Just a reminder, the responses to these questions are based on our own experiences in the fie...

Jul 02, 201924 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Ep 9: Fieldwork Q&A with Vera Ferreira & Hugo Cardoso (Part 1)

Today's episode is with Vera Ferreira ( CIDLeS & ELDP ) & Hugo Cardoso (University of Lisbon). In this episode, Martha, Hugo & Vera discuss questions sent in from listeners. Questions include "How can collected data be shared in a meaningful way with communities" and "What do researchers prioritise during their documentation projects?". If you would like to hear more about Vera's fieldwork with the Fala (Spain), Minderico (Portugal) and Bavarian (Germany) communities, you can listen ...

Jun 25, 201926 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Ep 8: Lauren Gawne on Funding Fieldwork

This episode is with Lauren Gawne who does fieldwork in Nepal working with speakers of Yolmo and Syuba . Lauren has experience as both a successful grant applicant and as a grant committee assessor. In this episode, she shares her advice for navigating applying for funding in the current overly-competitive and under-resourced environment. Things mentioned in this episode: Lauren's website Lingthusiasm : a podcast enthusiastic about linguistics, hosted by Lauren Gawne & Gretchen McCulloch Lau...

Jun 17, 201927 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Ep 7: Community Collaboration for Language Documentation in the Tanzanian Rift Valley with Andrew Harvey

This episode is with Andrew Harvey, who is a documentary linguist working with speakers of two previously un-documented languages, Ihanzu and Gorwaa (Tanzania). Andrew discusses his research, the seredipitous beginning to his work with the Gorwaa community, and how community collaboration has impacted the documentation and description of Ihanzu and Gorwaa. Things mentioned in this episode: Andrew’s Gorwaa deposit at ELAR: The Gorwaa Noun Phrase: Toward a Description of the Gorwaa Language Andrew...

Jun 11, 201925 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Ep 6: Madoka Hammine on Insider Research in the Ryukyus

This episode is with insider researcher Madoka Hammine, who is a PhD student at University of Lapland in Finland. Madoka works on her heritage language, Yaeyama (Ryukyuan), as both a linguist and a language activist. Her PhD project is entitled: "embracing multilingualism in education", based on her fieldwork in both in Finland and Miyara village (Ishigaki, Japan). Things mentioned in this episode: Madoka’s work (paper mentioned TBA): https://ulapland.academia.edu/MadokaHammine Madoka’s profile ...

Jun 04, 201921 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Ep 5: Khairunnisa on Insider Researcher Language Documentation on Sasak

This episode is with Khairunnisa , who is researching variation and politeness strategies in her own language, Sasak (Lombok, Indonesia). In this episode, Khairunnisa discusses how working as an insider researcher influences her research methods, and how she manages the challenges of adhering to expected societal norms in her own community. Things mentioned in this episode: Sasak on Wikipedia OLAC resources in and about the Sasak language Language Documentation Training Center at UH Ngenó-Ngené ...

May 28, 201916 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Ep 4: Hugo Cardoso on Researching Creoles in Sri Lanka & India

In this episode, Hugo Cardoso discusses his work with the creole-speaking communities of Diu and Kerala and the Portuguese Burgher community (Eastern Sri Lanka). Things mentioned in this episode: Hugo's profile on the University of Lisbon website: http://www.clul.ulisboa.pt/en/researchers-en/39-cardoso-hugo Hugo's ELAR deposit: Documentation of Sri Lanka Portuguese Hugo's equipment: Marantz audio recorder , Zoom H6 , Panasonic HC-VX98 video cameras, Sennheiser lapel microphone (wireless), Rode N...

May 21, 201922 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Ep 3: Lyle Campbell on Language Documentation in the Americas

In this episode, Lyle Campbell shares stories from his work in the Americas, discusses what has changed in the field of Documentary Linguistics since he started his career, and gives some food-related advice to new field workers. Things mentioned in this episode: Endangered Languages Project: http://www.endangeredlanguages.com Catalogue of Endangered Languages: http://ling.hawaii.edu/research-current/projects/elcat/ Lyle Campbell’s website: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~lylecamp/ Quechuan language fam...

May 14, 201924 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Ep 2: Vera Ferreira on Linguistic Fieldwork in Europe

Vera Ferreira discusses her fieldwork in Europe working with the Minderico (Portugal), Fala (Spain), and Bavarian (Germany) communities. Things mentioned in this episode: CIDLeS: http://www.cidles.eu Fala language on Wikipedia Bavarian language on Wikipedia Minderico language on Wikipedia Get in touch: Website: https://fieldnotespod.com Email: fieldnotespod@gmail.com Twitter & Instagram: @lingfieldnotes Get in touch: Website: https://fieldnotespod.com Email: fieldnotespod@gmail.com Twitter a...

May 02, 201934 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Ep 1: Welcome to Field Notes!

Welcome to Field Notes! This podcast aims to share the stories of linguists doing fieldwork to document, describe, and research languages (especially endangered/minority languages). In Season One, we will be interviewing several field linguists about their work and how they would advise new fieldworkers and students thinking about getting into field linguistics. Things mentioned in this episode: UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger Amami language on Wikipedia Ryukyuan language family ...

May 02, 20196 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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