response

[David Lewis]

Since I seem to be one of the loudest, I might as well continue for a time.

Thanks Dave R. for clarifying the issues.

It seems to me the issue now has become one where this listserve is bounded
by the policies of the Linguistlist, that we speak about language. This is
very revealing for me. Revealing because it seems to be an example of how
the Western Academic system fractionalizes culture into palatable size
chunks for Western scientists and researchers. This presents a cultural
problem for this list. On this list are people of different cultural
backgrounds who are trying to work together on a shared cultural construct.
The contemporary Chinook Jargon is constructed from the interactions
between native and non-native peoples who were in social, spiritual and
economic relationships with each other. This admixture creates an array of
relationships between all parts of  the cultures involved and the language
which is the center of the communication between the different peoples
involved.  So, to my mind nearly any discussion of the historical
significance of this geographic region is relevant to Chinook Jargon.
People who grew up and live within the language sphere do not consider
Chinook Jargon as only a linguistic issue.

However, it appears that there is another definition which it the policy of
this listserve. We have no say in what that policy is, which turns into, we
have no say in the "definition of a discussion of Chinook Jargon." This
principle seems very colonial to me. To have to accept a definition of
discussing Chinook Jargon as defined by an institution which is not located
in our geographic area, nor which has an investment, morally, spiritually,
or culturally in this language.

We have become the community of this listserve. A living and breathing
imagined community which operates like many other communities. We are
invested in this language, many base our careers, and all of our free time
on the jargon. The Jargon has become a symbol for the revitalization of
native language in the Pacific Northwest and of the revitalization of
working relationships between natives and non-natives. We are also making
plans for the future growth of the language. Every discussion stimulates
people to begin making plans for the future and I have no doubt that we are
right now imagining the future for the jargon.

So, it appears that we are pushing the boundaries of the policies of this
listserve. We are developing beyond that narrow definition.

So, what are we to do? Maybe the linguistlist organization can be convinced
to accept a definition of the Chinook Jargon as we see it? Or maybe it is
time to move on to larger "quarters?"

I would like to hear from people as to what they want to do. I have a lot
of experience creating and managing listserves, and if it comes to that, I
could easily establish one for a more general discussion of Chinook Jargon.
Maybe a side discussion on a more general listserve would serve everyone's
interests, with people being involved in both listserves, where the
original is strictly linguistic in nature. The listserve service I use
archives the messages as well.

Please respond to me personally if necessary,
David


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               David Lewis
         P.O. Box 3086
Eugene, OR 97403, USA
541.684.9003  Cell 541.954.2466
talapus at kalapuya.com, coyotez at darkwing.uoregon.edu,
http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~coyotez
http://www.kalapuya.com
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~coyotez

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Oregon
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