Ethics in Language Documentation and Revitalization

Abstract

The increasing emphasis that linguistics has placed on the documentation and revitalization of the world’s endangered languages has brought more scholars of language into contact with communities whose cultures, needs, and interests diverge greatly from their own. Moreover, in many countries, research involving human subjects has become the target of increasing scrutiny, and the rise of digital means of information dissemination that has made contemporary documentary linguistics possible has foregrounded issues of rights and access to language resources. These contexts of “culture clash” have prompted serious considerations of ethical practices in documentation and revitalization. This chapter looks at these issues through the examination of five case studies which clarify the ideological underpinnings of key ethical concerns in language documentation and revitalization. Insights from the previous literature are incorporated into the discussion, and additional topics such as archiving and compliance with institutional regulations are also discussed.