Starting a Conversation with Rachel McGraw: Relationships, respect, and listening in sociolinguistic research with Totonac communities in Mexico

Presented by Rachel McGraw, Sessional Lecturer CCGS, PhD Candidate in Linguistics University of Alberta

In Person: Arts 368 (ICER)

Online via Zoom, please email: icer.ok@ubc.ca for the link

Abstract:

In this discussion, Rachel McGraw explores the importance of relationships for conducting sociolinguistic research with the Totonac communities of Ozelonacaxtla and Huehuetla, Puebla, Mexico. Her research explores the language vitality of Totonac and multilingualism in Totonac and Spanish. She understand’s language vitality as underlyingly ideological, which means in order to assess vitality, it is essential to talk to people and listen carefully to them. This focus on listening requires establishing and maintaining respectful relationships with people throughout the research process: respecting and engaging in community protocols and social networks, using flexible and responsive interview methods, analyzing and writing in a way that reflects and respects people’s voices, and theorizing language vitality through a community informed perspective. Rachel McGraw considers the importance of listening for establishing respectful relationships and for practicing community engagement throughout the research process.

Bio:

Rachel McGraw is a PhD Candidate and SSHRC Doctoral winner in Linguistics at the University of Alberta, and a sessional lecturer in Linguistic Anthropology and Indigenous Revitalization in CCGS. Rachel has an MA in Spanish Applied Linguistics and has presented her research at a range of international conferences including the Canadian Anthropology Society, the American Anthropological Association, and the Society for Linguistic Anthropology.