What are some of the ethical issues that you are grappling with in your research? What are some of the ways in which you are responding to these questions?
- Since my project centers around the Hawaiian native language and given that this is not my own native tongue, one ethical issue I am considering in my research is maintaining a level of authenticity while telling a story that is not my own. Since I do not possess any personal ties to the Hawaiian native language, I want to ensure that the sociology and history part of my research paper does not read as mere observations from an outsider. Rather, I want to ensure that it is accurate and aligns with ancient indigenous Hawaiian experiences. In order to do so, I consulted with Dr. Larry Kimura, a professor at the University of Hawai'i and the godfather of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement. Having the opportunity to speak with someone who had so many ties to 'Ōlelo Hawai'i, I was able to gain a firsthand perspective on Hawaiian history, and Dr. Kimura also provided me with information on how the story of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement had been misrepresented in the past by media. As such, my own research was better informed from an ethical standpoint as a result of my conversation with Dr. Kimura.
As you continue your research, have you considered alternative viewpoints in your investigation? If so, how have these alternative viewpoints enriched or changed your project?
- This is something I have not yet had the chance to do much in my project thus far, but is something I want to look into doing in the upcoming weeks. In terms of language revitalization, some of the papers I have been reading possess opposing viewpoints on the most efficient method of revitalization, be it language immersion, forms of media, etc. I want to ensure that I incorporate these different viewpoints into my research paper so that I provide a holistic view on the various forms of revitalization efforts that exist.
I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University majoring in Applied Mathematics and Statistics while pursuing a minor in Linguistics.
This summer, I am excited to combine these interests as I dive into the field of Computational Linguistics, exploring how mathematical modeling can be utilized to predict the decline of endangered languages and to better understand the relationship between endangered languages and dominant languages.
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Hey Aneesha!
Maintaining a level of authenticity is really important when it comes to researching a group that you might not be part of. My project has a lot to do with vaccine disparities between migrants and natural-born citizens, and I find myself being really careful with how I demonstrate the cultural reasons as to why people may be apprehensive about getting vaccinated.
I think it’s so cool that you got to speak to the “godfather” of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement. Having accessibility to a grand leader in scholarship is incredible. Consulting him to make sure you got the story right and not misinterpret is such an ethical and responsible thing to do.
I also relate to collecting different perspectives on the same ideas. I think there is no wrong way of going about solving language revitalization or vaccine access (as long as it is ethical) and I think it is important to shine light on all voices in such niche conversations. Good luck on the rest of your research!