Course Description
Introduction to linguistic fieldwork and language documentation
through work with a speaker of an unknown language. Methods of
eliciting, transcribing, organizing, and storing data; data
analysis, formulating and testing hypotheses; and ethical issues
involved in linguistic fieldwork.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to do additional weekly
elicitation sessions with the language consultant outside of
the classroom during the second half of the semester, with the
objective of gathering data that will allow for a more
fine-grained analysis in their final research projects. They
will write an annotated bibliography of at least ten
references by week 13, and their final papers are expected to
be of a quality suitable for presentation at a national
conference.
Athena Title
Language Doc and Field Methods
Undergraduate Prerequisite
LING 3060 and (LING 3150 or LING 3150W or LING 3250)
Graduate Prerequisite
LING 6021 and (LING 8150 or LING 8120)
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to collect, represent, and analyze linguistic fieldwork data using appropriate methodological and theoretical frameworks.
- Students will be able to evaluate the quality, reliability, and limitations of linguistic data and analyses, taking into account methodological, ethical, and interactional factors.
- Students will be able to develop and justify linguistic analyses and research decisions using empirical evidence and explicit reasoning grounded in best practices in linguistics.
- Students will be able to communicate linguistic data, analyses, and research processes clearly and effectively in written, oral, interpersonal, and visual forms, adapting communication to different audiences and contexts.
- Students will be able to engage ethically, respectfully, and reflexively in linguistic fieldwork, demonstrating awareness of cultural, social, and community-based concerns.
- Students will be able to collaborate productively in fieldwork-based research by incorporating feedback, negotiating perspectives, and contributing responsibly to shared research goals.
Topical Outline
- A. Doing documentation
- B. Methods
- C. Types of media and their properties
- D. Metadata
- E. Data formats
- F. Archiving and dissemination
- G. Linguistic aspects of fieldwork: eliciting data, organizing data, analyzing data
- H. Ethical, anthropological, and social aspects of fieldwork
- I. Fieldwork on phonetics and phonology
- J. Fieldwork on morpho-syntax
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
