Full Description
Lyle Campbell's linguistic fieldwork has taken him to numerous countries, sometimes in challenging circumstances. It has led to exciting discoveries including a new language in southeastern Guatemala, a unique speech sound, unknown in any other language, in the Nivaclé language of Paraguay and Argentina, and unusual and unique features in several other languages. Along the way, he has experienced dangers and challenges, the joys and excitement of fieldwork, and encountered first-hand the importance of collaborating with indigenous groups to help document and revitalize their languages.
Written with humour, heart, and a clear dedication to endangered languages and their speakers, Lyle's vivid memoir is a lesson not only on life in the field but on the importance of language documentation. With so many of the world's languages being lost at an alarming rate, this remains the most compelling and urgent task for linguists now and into the future.
Contents
Foreword by Wade Davis Preface; Acknowledgements1 Introduction: What's a linguist do, anyway?, What's linguistic fieldwork?2 Fieldwork adventure3 Discoveries4 Finding language consultants and working with them5 Perils, parasites, politics, and violence6 Eating, drinking, and matters of health7 Surviving fieldwork travel and living in the Field 8 What next?: What is needed in endangered language research?References; Index
