With the accelerating loss of linguistic diversity in our world, it is a time for serious thought about how to record as much as possible of the richness still around us. In many cases what we choose to document may be the principal record of an entire linguistic tradition, both for the descendants of the speakers and for others seeking to understand the possibilities of the human mind. It is a time to consider not only how to fill recognizable gaps in current knowledge, but also how to provide the basis for answers to questions we do not yet know enough to ask. In most cases, these goals can best be met by a mix of styles of collaboration between speakers and linguists. The product of fieldwork will ultimately be shaped not only by the nature of the language, but also by the methodologies chosen, by the roles assumed by the speakers, and by the preparation and sensitivity of the linguist.

Methodology

The record that results from linguistic fieldwork depends of course on the goal of the particular project, which in turn determines the kinds of methodologies that will be effective. The goal may be quite specific, such as understanding patterns of vowel harmony. It may be as ambitious as the documentation of an entire language in as much depth as possible.