5. Decolonizing linguistics
5.1. Language and community
As social scientists, we have a responsibility to think critically about where our data comes from—not only so that we can ensure it is reliable and that the collection methods fit our research objectives, but also to ensure that our data has been collected in an ethical manner. We are studying human language, which means that we are collecting our data from people and from communities, and we need to consider the impact of our research on these people and communities. In this chapter, we will look at some of the ethical issues involving using and collecting data, especially data from Indigenous languages, within the context of colonialism.
In the past, linguistics as a field has tended to separate the data we collect from the communities that use them, to treat the data as abstract ideas that belong to no one, or perhaps to the linguist who records them. However, such an approach can cause harm; the languages we study often have emotional, cultural, historical, and spiritual significance to the communities using them. As Christine Mallinson writes, “language and society are inseparable, language is a cultural artifact that belongs to those people and communities who use it, and addressing power dynamics and inequalities surrounding language is central to social justice, equity, and inclusion” (Charity Hudley, Mallinson & Bucholtz 2024b: xiv).
Likewise, we, as researchers, bring our own history, culture, and context to bear as we do research. As Clemons and Lawrence (2020: e259) state, “research subjectivities affect the kinds of questions that get asked as well as the interpretation of findings.”
Emotionless, passionless, abstract, intellectual, academic research is a goddamn lie, it does not exist. It is a lie to ourselves and a lie to other people. Humans—feeling, living, breathing, thinking humans—do research. When we try to cut ourselves off at the neck and pretend an objectivity that does not exist in the human world, we become dangerous, to ourselves first, and then to the people around us.
Eber Hampton (1995: 52, as cited in Wilson 2008: 100-101)
As such, I will begin this chapter by introducing myself and my position with regards to linguistic research and Indigenous communities.
Positionality statement
I, the author of this textbook, am a white settler person of mixed Germanic and Celtic descent. Most of my ancestors settled in Canada between 5 and 8 generations ago in the 1700s and 1800s. Most bought, were given, or rented land to farm. Some were the first white settlers in their area, such as David and Mary Thompson on my paternal grandmother’s side, who came from Scotland and were the first to settle in Scarborough, Ontario. My ancestors settled on land covered by many different treaties in Ontario, which were signed on their behalf, including the Williams treaties, the Toronto Purchase, the Haldimand Tract and Simcoe Patent, the Huron Tract, and the Robinson-Huron Treaty. There are many ethical issues and disputes regarding these treaties.
As I write this section, I cannot separate myself from my family’s history. What I can do, however, is move forward in a posture of learning, one that acknowledges this history and my place in it and that seeks to move forward in a better way. This learning journey will continue for the remainder of my life. This section represents some of the things I have learned so far, from my perspective as a settler linguist who would like to honour the people who speak the languages I study as best as I can.
As I wrote this section, I tried to base it on the words and shared experiences of Indigenous scholars and community members. However, the very act of collecting and summarizing these views colours them with my perspective. If at all possible, you should learn about the experiences of Indigenous people directly from them. Check out the sources marked with a ➡️ in the references sections throughout this chapter for some suggestions.
What is an Indigenous language?
In brief, an Indigenous language is a language used by or associated with an Indigenous people group. Often, Indigenous languages have historical, cultural, and/or spiritural significance for the Indigenous group(s) that use them.
In its simplest meaning, indigenous is simply an adjective describing originating in a particular place. Under this definition, all languages are indigenous to somewhere, since all languages arose in a particular community in a particular place. More often, though, the term indigenous is used in a more specific manner. However, as there are more than 5,000 distinct Indigenous groups in the world (according to the United Nations), it is difficult to provide a precise definition. Instead of providing a definition of indigeneity, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that Indigenous peoples have a right to self-identify as Indigenous. This can lead to tricky situations, though, when groups with dubious claims to Indigeneity demand political Indigenous status. However, some commonalities between Indigenous groups can be identified: continued occupation of a land since before colonization, distinct cultures and political systems, and the desire to maintain institutions distinct from the majority population.
Indigenous peoples have in common a historical continuity with a given region prior to colonization and a strong link to their lands. They maintain, at least in part, distinct social, economic and political systems. They have distinct languages, cultures, beliefs and knowledge systems. They are determined to maintain and develop their identity and distinct institutions and they form a non-dominant sector of society.
-United Nations
Indigenous peoples (and their languages) are found in every region of the world. The majority of the world’s languages are used by Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous peoples challenge!
How many Indigenous people groups are you aware of? Try to name as many Indigenous people groups as you can from memory, such as the following:
- The Indigenous people groups of where you currently live
- The Indigenous people groups of the places you grew up
- The Indigenous people groups of where your ancestors are from
- An Indigenous people group from every continent of the world
- An Indigenous people group for every letter of the alphabet
- An Indigenous people group from every country of the world
Consider reading about the Indigenous people groups from regions that are especially relevant to you! Many of you will be surprised by what you find.
Key takeaways
- Language is inseparable from the communities that use them.
- As linguists, we have an ethical obligation to ensure that the way we collect, store, and use language data does no harm to the communities who use the languages our data is from.
- It is impossible to stay completely objective; everyone has conscious and subconscious biases.
- Indigenous people groups typically have the following characteristics: they have occupied their land since before colonization, are a minority population, and desire to maintain distinct cultural and political institutions.
Check yourself!
References and further resources
The references in this section that have at least one Indigenous author are indicated with an ➡️.
For a general audience
🔍 Oxford, Will. 2019. Indigenous Languages in Canada. Canadian Language Museum. https://languagemuseum.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/indigenous_languages_in_canada_0.pdf
United Nations. No date. Indigenous peoples. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://www.un.org/en/fight-racism/vulnerable-groups/indigenous-peoples
United Nations. 2007. United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples
Academic sources
Charity Hudley, Anne, Christine Mallinson, and Mary Bucholtz, eds. 2024a. Decolonizing Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford UP. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/decolonizing-linguistics-9780197755259?cc=ca&lang=en&#
Charity Hudley, Anne, Christine Mallinson, and Mary Bucholtz, eds. 2024b. Inclusion in Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford UP. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/inclusion-in-linguistics-9780197755303?cc=ca&lang=en&
Clemons, Aris, and Anna Lawrence. 2020. Beyond position statements on race: Fostering an ethos of antiracist scholarship in linguistic research (Response to Charity Hudley et al.). Language 96 (4): e254-e267.
➡️ 🔍 Wilson, Shawn. 2008. Research is ceremony: Indigenous research methods. Halifax: Fernwood Publishing.
➡️ 📑 Younging, Gregory. 2018. Elements of Indigenous Style. Brush Education Inc.
