Request for info from/about indigenous groups that have/have had good relationship with linguists

[Heather Souter]

Taanshi, hello,

Although I appreciate that there are/were many well-meaning
researchers of different faiths, those whose work includes/included
biblical translation and evangelization are not linguists whose
stories will help my cause.  However, I would very much welcome the
stories researchers who happen to profess a particular faith yet do
not impose this on the groups they were/are working with (and as
importantly do/did not, to the best of their ability, allow it to
control the direction of their collaborations).  Thank-you.

Eekoshi.  That is all.
Heather Souter

On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 5:32 AM, Dave Pearson <dave_pearson at sil.org> wrote:
> Geoffrey Pullum's obituary for Des Derbyshire is also a moving story:
> http://www.linguistlist.org/issues/19/19-1.html
>
> Des "...wrote movingly of having lived among Brazilian Indians and having
> valued them as friends and teachers and learned a great deal from them". In
> addition, the anecdote about Booby Kennedy is a surprising aside!
>
> Dave Pearson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Indigenous Languages and Technology [mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU]
> On Behalf Of Damien Hall
> Sent: 28 April 2009 10:22
> To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: [ILAT] Request for info from/about indigenous groups that have/have
> had good relationship with linguists
>
> The best such example I can think of off the top of my head is the
> extremely good relationship that R.M.W. (Bob) Dixon has with the many
> Australian Aboriginal communities on whose languages he has worked. He
> feels (and I agree with him!) that linguistic / anthropological work can
> only / most successfully be carried out if the researcher has a deep,
> respectful, personal relationship with informants. In his case I remember
> that this led in at least one instance to his being made a member of the
> people whose language he was studying, and to considerable grief on his
> part when he was informed of the death of one of his principal informants
> and good friends but was unable to get to Australia in time for her
> funeral.
>
> This is the Wikipedia page about him:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._M._W._Dixon
>
> It is short, but may be adequate for what you need. In particular, on
> respectful and linguistically-fruitful relationships with studied
> populations, I would recommend you look at his personal memoir _Searching
> for Aboriginal Languages_ (1983), which is an account of the more human
> aspects of his fieldwork up to then. It is a convincing demonstration that
> the people whose languages he was studying overcame considerable initial
> reluctance to become personal friends, in many instances, and enthusiastic
> informants, once they were convinced of the value of his work and of the
> fact that they weren't just going to be exploited.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> Damien Hall
>
> --
> Damien Hall
>
> University of York
> Department of Language and Linguistic Science
> Heslington
> YORK
> YO10 5DD
> UK
>
> Tel. (office) +44 (0)1904 432665
>     (mobile) +44 (0)771 853 5634
> Fax  +44 (0)1904 432673
>
> http://www.york.ac.uk/res/aiseb/
> http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/lang/people/pages/hall.htm
>