LINGUIST List 29.247
Tue Jan 16 2018
Summer Schools: A Training Program in African Linguistics and Language Documentation: Fieldwork Opportunity in Ghana/USA and Ghana
Editor for this issue: Sarah Robinson <srobinsonlinguistlist.org>
Date: 15-Jan-2018
From: Harold Torrence <htorrence
humnet.ucla.edu>
Subject: A Training Program in African Linguistics and Language
Documentation: Fieldwork Opportunity in Ghana
E-mail this
message to a friend Host Institution: University of California, Los
Angeles
Coordinating Institution: City University of New York
Dates:
18-Jun-2018 - 18-Aug-2018
Location: Accra, Ghana
Focus: This training
project will focus on the documentation of endangered Ghanaian languages.
Minimum Education Level: BA
Description:
This project is a unique
opportunity to conduct fieldwork on under-documented and endangered languages in
Ghana. We seek early-career doctoral and masters students who plan to pursue a Ph.D.
in linguistics and who are seriously considering writing a thesis involving
linguistic fieldwork and language documentation. We are also seeking graduating or
recently graduated undergraduates who plan to pursue an advanced degree in
linguistics. We will take into consideration previous training and achievements in
linguistic fieldwork and language documentation, and evidence of interest in the
languages of Africa, especially those of Ghana. This is an opportunity for students
to gain experience in field linguistics and qualifications that would facilitate
applying for dissertation funding by the NSF Documenting Endangered Languages -
Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants.
The goal of this project
is to increase the number of African language specialists at institutions in the USA
by getting early-career linguists involved in hands-on field research in Africa.
Therefore, we are particularly interested in participants who can see themselves
conducting fieldwork in Africa as part of their doctoral or MA research and beyond.
Participants will spend two weeks in classes at the 2018 CoLang Institute (
https://colang.lin.ufl.edu/), to be
held at the University of Florida, starting in mid-June 2018. Participants will then
travel with a research team consisting of the two PIs (Dr. Harold Torrence and Dr.
Jason Kandybowicz), a postdoctoral scholar, a graduate research assistant, and other
awardees to Ghana to conduct six weeks of fieldwork. By participating in the
project, participants will gain valuable training in linguistic fieldwork and
language documentation in the USA and then have the chance to immediately apply this
knowledge onsite in Ghana. Additionally, students are asked to make a commitment to
write a research paper for presentation at a professional academic conference in
2019.
Funding: Students will receive funding for food, lodging, airfare and
travel expenses, and a stipend of $3000.
Dates: The project will begin in
June 2018 and end in June 2019. Participants will attend the 2018 CoLang Institute
from mid-June 2018 to July 1, 2018. Following this, participants will conduct
fieldwork in Ghana from July until mid-August 2018.
Participant Background:
Applicants must be either graduate students or advanced undergraduates at US
institutions who are excited about the chance to conduct fieldwork in Africa.
Applicants need not be US citizens.
For more information, please contact
Jason Kandybowicz (jkandybowicz
gc.cuny.edu) or Harold
Torrence (htorrence
humnet.ucla.edu).
Linguistic Field(s): Language Documentation
Language
Families: Niger-Congo
Tuition: 0 USD
Financial Aid: Applications
accepted until 28-Feb-2018
Students will receive a stipend of $3000.00.
Financial Aid Instructions:
Registration: 15-Jan-2018 to
28-Feb-2018
Contact Person: Harold Torrence
Phone:
310-206-8906
Email:
ghanaproject
ucla.edu
Apply by Email: ghanaproject
ucla.edu
Registration Instructions:
Application Deadline and Timeline: We will review
applications until we have decided on the awards. Applicants should have their
materials submitted by February 28, 2018. We will conduct interviews and will inform
selected participants by mid to late March 2018. Submission Guidelines: Applicants
should submit the following: (1) A maximum two-page statement, explaining: (a) why
the applicant is interested in participating in the project; (b) the applicant�s
academic background; (c) how participation in this project fits in with the
applicant�s long term educational and career goals; and (d) evidence of ability to
work independently and/or self-motivate. (2) a CV (3) A copy of their transcripts
(These can be unofficial.) (4) A writing sample (which does not have to be on an
African language) (Students who have completed relevant research papers may send one
such paper as well.) (5) Applicants should arrange for two letters of recommendation
to be sent by the deadline to ghanaproject
ucla.edu. The
email with the letter of recommendation should have the subject line: Ghana Summer
Fieldwork: student name. Letter writers should comment on the applicant�s academic
preparation, level of maturity and self-motivation.
Page Updated: 16-Jan-2018