PhD research on a Bantu Language-
Expected Contributions of my PhD Research
Most Tanzanian Languages are endangered and not well documented. In order to reverse this trend it is crucial that solid descriptions and analyses of the local languages is conducted as a way of also preserving cultural heritage and enhancing identity. With my research local languages will remain strong community languages that can act as a vehicle for positive national development in different spheres of life. This will also importantly preserve the heritage of present and the future generations.
The
focus on community-based data collection will produce work and language description
that is valued by the native community who will contribute to the development
of knowledge about their community language. The goal of this research is to
make a difference in the way people in the community think about their languages. It is also about creating new knowledge and understanding
of their language practices in order to bring about change and mindset
transformation concerning the status of their languages as providing access to
prosperity in socio-economic terms. By being community-based the research is therefore
collaborative, gender and age inclusive, participatory, empowering, systematic
and transformative.
More
broadly this research will contribute to national development, from
the positive effects of the research on the community in developing their
language but also from the skills and knowledge I will gain from my studies
which will be directly transferred to my students who can then go on to do
similar research on the other many languages of Tanzania and therefore arrest
language endangerment.
Comments
Post a Comment