Comment

Comment by Nayana on April 21, 2011 at 1:52am

Hello all, I've recently joined in. This seems to be a fantastic tool for networking and exchanging ideas, research links, etc. Exciting!

I'm wondering if anyone here is going to SALSA 2011 in Belém? http://www.salsa-tipiti.org/Conferences/salsa_2011.html I'm going and it would be nice to have any contacts. Cheers xxx

Comment by Pawel Tomasz Chyc on April 22, 2010 at 11:39pm

Hi Everyone, recently I've found grate project! Enjoy!
http://www.etnolinguistica.org/

Comment by Pawel Tomasz Chyc on April 5, 2010 at 7:12pm

Dear John-Ben
Thank You, I received information about this book a few weeks ago, but unfortunately I don't know French language (I read spanish and english only). Here I have some gift for those who don't have it yet...
ATLAS-5-Amazonia.pdf

Comment by John-Ben Soileau on April 5, 2010 at 6:09pm

Dear Pawel,

There is a new book out in French that might be of interest to you:

http://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=...

Fascinating topics -

Boa Sorte!

-jb

Comment by Pawel Tomasz Chyc on April 5, 2010 at 5:21pm

Hi everyone,
As I'm new, some information about my interest:
[Actually Unknown Indigenous Populations] - in literature known as Pueblos Indigenas en Aislamiento Voluntario - i'm interested in from practical and theoretical perspective,
[Amazonian anthropology/theory] - comensality/body conception, amerindian perspectivism/animism - cosmology at al, Alternity, "social change"; etc. [cognitive anthropology] - "direct perception", embodied mind [evolutionary psychology] - Hallpike's conception of primitive thought [Methodology & making theory in anthropology]
Is there anybody here ;-)?

Comment by Neil Turner on February 9, 2010 at 1:59pm

Stacy, please explain what you mean by a "working" knowledge of the native language? Thanks.

Comment by Stacy A A Hope on February 2, 2010 at 7:51pm

I agree that you cannot practice anthropology without knowledge of the language. I would disagree on the emphasis placed on a "reading" knowledge as the ability to read a language and speak a language place emphasis on two separate institutions of power. Reading a language places an emphasis on a national structure, whereas speaking and understanding a language vis-a-vis something that is not seen but heard brings forth the cultural variations that we lose in standard text. There are many languages that do not have written form, yet when we put it down on paper we tend to come up with our own linguistic structures as to how this can be done. Creole is a good example, as this changes depending on the demographics of a society, the historical encounters, etc. If we were to speak of having a "working" knowledge of the native language, then I would have to agree. This is an argument almost as old as the launching of social/cultural anthropology. I hope this helps Neil.

Comment by Neil Turner on January 21, 2010 at 2:12pm

Greetings,

I wish to ask, what I think is a relative question, hoping that my intent will not be misunderstood. But, as a practicing anthropologist during ethnography in Brasil for the past three years, I am curious how you can approach research or fieldwork without at least a reading knowledge of the native language? So much gets lost in translations especially depending upon the structure of a given language and its adeptness to translation; and as you have already alluded much extraordinary research is not translated into English. As I am sure you are aware, traditionally the first requirement for conducting fieldwork was a working knowledge of the indigenous language. In my case, the first challenge was to learn the language, studying almost everyday along with tremendous help from my wife, Brasilian family members, and closest friends. I made a point of telling them to feel free to correct me at any time I spoke the language incorrectly. As a result, I have learned the language much more quickly and still only speak about 70%. But, overall, the most important result has been my ability to understand the language when anyone speaks to me regardless of how quickly they may speak. This has assisted my research tremendous by helping me to 1) interpret better; 2) move about the society without the aid of a translator or someone to assist me; and, 3) enabled me to understand conversations that I might overhear. This query is not meant to intimidate but I am honestly curious.

Comment by Stacy A A Hope on January 21, 2010 at 1:17am

Great! Maybe we can start discussions next week on theSurralles article posted below. As it is in Spanish, it will take me awhile to get through it, but I am sure that by next week I can putt something out. I just hope that there are many Spanish readers in here.

Comment by Stacy A A Hope on January 14, 2010 at 4:22pm

Sorry for the delay in response! Luana, my research touches on the cosmological movement of indigenous peoples as the growing pressures of globalisation rises. I will be reading your article, but maybe it may be a good way to start things rolling. Maybe we can agree to talk about it? Or raise a discussion question based on the article?

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page