Native linguists

[phil cash cash]

David and Susan, everybody,

Just a quick note.  The Languages volume of the HBNA (Handbook of  
North American Indians, Vol 17, Languages) acknowledges the  
contributions of the native communities to modern linguistic  
research.  These individuals are identified as "native speaker  
researchers" (pp 56).  As Susan mentioned, we have used the term  
"community intellectual" at various times in acknowledging these  
people in our AILDI (American Indian Language Development Inst)  
courses.  In my UofA M.A thesis of 2000, I have used the term  
"speaker scholar" and speaker scholar research to describe the work  
of one such individual.  So everybody should feel free to take a look  
at the listing from the HBNA-Languages vol. pages 57-58.  There you  
(all) will find a diverse listing of community scholars/researchers  
who made important contributions to modern native language research  
and revitalization.  I am certain there are more but at the moment  
many go unrecognized.  Thanks David.

Phil



On Oct 30, 2007, at 8:47 AM, Susan Penfield wrote:

> Thanks for this, David..
>
> Phil and I have had this discussion often and the term "community  
> intellectuals' sometimes surfaces --
>
> While I realize your list will focus on currently practicing folks,  
> I would like to acknowledge someone who passed away a few years ago  
> but whose knowledge and contribution still are valuable to the  
> Mohave language community: Leona Little.
> Leona was an elder I worked with for some time and was the first -  
> perhaps only- person to develop full literacy in Mohave and began,  
> of her own intiative, to do full translations and transcriptions of  
> traditional stories. There are others currently working in this  
> direction and following her example (including two of her daughters  
> who are just recently getting really interested in working with  
> their heritage language).
>
> Please add Amelia Flores  (Mohave, enrolled at Colorado River  
> Indian Tribes where she is the tribal librarian and archivist)to  
> your list. Amelia is finishing her MA in Native American languages  
> at the U of Arizona and is developing a community-friendly grammar  
> of Mohave as part of her work. As well, she is teaching classes in  
> Mohave and developing a carefully staged curriculum for the  
> language. Seems like she might bridge the criteria for both lists!
>
> Best,
> Susan
>
>
> On 10/30/07, David Lewis <David.Lewis at grandronde.org> wrote: I feel  
> that the current structure of the native linguist lists ignores
> the incredible contribution of natives without advanced degrees. In
> native society, within the Native worldview these are for many the  
> true
> linguists and those who carry power within their society. I understand
> the concept of the list but if this is about native people how is it
> possible to ignore the native worldview. If this list will not create
> that parallel with the higher degree holders, then I will create that
> list.
>
> Please send me your lists of native people who are linguists within
> their communities, they do not have to hold a degree from a university
> but must be working with the linguistic field, and considered a  
> leader.
> Please also send me more information about them, what languages the  
> work
> on and where they work, what tribe they are a member of, etc.
> Thank you,
>
> David G. Lewis
> Manager, Cultural Resources Department
> Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
>
> Office 503.879.1634
> David.Lewis at grandronde.org
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Indigenous Languages and Technology
> [mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of William J Poser
> Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 12:10 PM
> To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [ILAT] Native linguists
>
> >I just came across another native linguist!
> >
> >Dale Old Horn (Crow)
> >1974. Some Complement Constructions of the Crow Indian Language
> >M.S. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
>
> Got him. My current list is at: http://ydli.org/NativeLinguists.html
> Anyone with additional information (including gaps in the info on
> people already on the list) please let me know.
>
> Bill
>
>
>
> -- 
> ____________________________________________________________
> Susan D. Penfield, Ph.D.
>
> Associate Director, Center for Educational Resources in Culture,  
> Language and Literacy (CERCLL)
> Department of English (Primary)
> American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI)
> Second Language Acquisition & Teaching Ph.D. Program (SLAT)
> Department of Language,Reading and Culture
> Department of Linguistics
> The Southwest Center (Research)
> Phone for messages: (520) 621-1836
>
>
> "Every language is an old-growth forest of the mind, a watershed of  
> thought, an ecosystem of spiritual possibilities."
>
>                                                           Wade  
> Davis...(on a Starbucks cup...)