Language Beyond Boundaries: Framing for a Dynamic Linguistic Ecological Approach to indigenous knowledge among Manobo-Matigsalug in Mindanao, Philippi
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Cultures, Languages & Area Studie
Abstract
Indigenous communities worldwide face the threat of losing their language, causing gradual annihilation of their rich linguistic and cultural heritage (United Nations, 2019; Igboanusi & Wolf, 2009; Anderson &
Anderson, 2007). The incursion of dominant languages and cultures, and ongoing ecological concerns, provoke the progressive demise of indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSPs), traditional
knowledge transmitted across generations (United Nations, 2019). Philippine indigenous communities also face these perils, and the Manobo-Matigsalug, a Bukidnon aboriginal community of about fifty thousand people, are gravely affected.
My project, building on my previous studies of indigenous languages, examines the Manobo-Matigsalug's changing "language ecology" (i.e. how languages interact with each other and the places they are
spoken (Haugen, 1972)), in response to the threat to their IKSPs. My overarching research question is "How do the Manobo-Matigsalug in Sinuda, Kitaotao, Bukidnon, Philippines adapt to the dynamic
linguistic ecology of their society?" Specifically, my project will investigate:
1. What hegemonic languages, cultures, political systems, economic institutions, and environmental issues drive changes in the language ecology of the Manobo-Matigsalug?
2. How do the Manobo-Matigsalug project their language attitudes and ideologies in facing the changes to their language ecology?
3. How does the Manobo-Matigsalug language ecology affect the preservation or abandonment of their IKSPs?
Answering these questions at a time of crucial change will benefit the indigenous peoples in understanding and expressing their needs to government agencies, and help government organisations
and international development agencies understand how to support indigenous communities undergoing massive rapid change. My research draws on three key theoretical frameworks: language ecology,
language attitudes, and language ideologies. The notion of language ecology is now well-established, but the interaction between language and environment, and the impact of hegemonic cultures and economic
institutions are not well understood. The Haugenian tradition (building on Haugen, 1972) takes into account language, human mind, society, and environment; biolinguistic approaches examine multilingual
systems as analogous to biodiversity (Nettle & Romain, 2002); and Hallidayans link language to environmental issues and politics (Halliday, 1991). I also draw on approaches to language attitudes
(Sallabank, 2013; Garrett, 2010) to analyse Manobo-Matigsalug's individualistic disposition towards their language, and theories of language ideologies (Kroskrity, 2010; Gal, 2009) to analyse their collective
construal of their language in its social, cultural, and political environment.
I adopt an ethnographic approach, through participant-observation, requiring 8 months of immersion, living with the Manobo-Matigsalug, observing and recording conversations, behaviours, activities, and
meanings of social actions to reveal their dynamic ecolinguistics and IKSPs. To test, corroborate, and/or refine my understanding of my ethnographic data, I will conduct in-depth sociolinguistic interviews and
focus group discussions with the Manobo-Matigsalug.
My interdisciplinary research pioneers three aspects:
combining language, culture, politics, economics, and environmental science in ecolinguistics; how culture and economics reshape ecolinguistics; and how ecolinguistics sustain/damage IKSPs. These perspectives have not previously been explored in the Philippine context.
My project is structured for 3.5 years: Yr1 - orientation, completion of literature review, and refinement of literature review, Yr2 - fieldwork and analysis, Yr3-3.5 - completion of analysis, writing, and
publication.
Anderson, 2007). The incursion of dominant languages and cultures, and ongoing ecological concerns, provoke the progressive demise of indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSPs), traditional
knowledge transmitted across generations (United Nations, 2019). Philippine indigenous communities also face these perils, and the Manobo-Matigsalug, a Bukidnon aboriginal community of about fifty thousand people, are gravely affected.
My project, building on my previous studies of indigenous languages, examines the Manobo-Matigsalug's changing "language ecology" (i.e. how languages interact with each other and the places they are
spoken (Haugen, 1972)), in response to the threat to their IKSPs. My overarching research question is "How do the Manobo-Matigsalug in Sinuda, Kitaotao, Bukidnon, Philippines adapt to the dynamic
linguistic ecology of their society?" Specifically, my project will investigate:
1. What hegemonic languages, cultures, political systems, economic institutions, and environmental issues drive changes in the language ecology of the Manobo-Matigsalug?
2. How do the Manobo-Matigsalug project their language attitudes and ideologies in facing the changes to their language ecology?
3. How does the Manobo-Matigsalug language ecology affect the preservation or abandonment of their IKSPs?
Answering these questions at a time of crucial change will benefit the indigenous peoples in understanding and expressing their needs to government agencies, and help government organisations
and international development agencies understand how to support indigenous communities undergoing massive rapid change. My research draws on three key theoretical frameworks: language ecology,
language attitudes, and language ideologies. The notion of language ecology is now well-established, but the interaction between language and environment, and the impact of hegemonic cultures and economic
institutions are not well understood. The Haugenian tradition (building on Haugen, 1972) takes into account language, human mind, society, and environment; biolinguistic approaches examine multilingual
systems as analogous to biodiversity (Nettle & Romain, 2002); and Hallidayans link language to environmental issues and politics (Halliday, 1991). I also draw on approaches to language attitudes
(Sallabank, 2013; Garrett, 2010) to analyse Manobo-Matigsalug's individualistic disposition towards their language, and theories of language ideologies (Kroskrity, 2010; Gal, 2009) to analyse their collective
construal of their language in its social, cultural, and political environment.
I adopt an ethnographic approach, through participant-observation, requiring 8 months of immersion, living with the Manobo-Matigsalug, observing and recording conversations, behaviours, activities, and
meanings of social actions to reveal their dynamic ecolinguistics and IKSPs. To test, corroborate, and/or refine my understanding of my ethnographic data, I will conduct in-depth sociolinguistic interviews and
focus group discussions with the Manobo-Matigsalug.
My interdisciplinary research pioneers three aspects:
combining language, culture, politics, economics, and environmental science in ecolinguistics; how culture and economics reshape ecolinguistics; and how ecolinguistics sustain/damage IKSPs. These perspectives have not previously been explored in the Philippine context.
My project is structured for 3.5 years: Yr1 - orientation, completion of literature review, and refinement of literature review, Yr2 - fieldwork and analysis, Yr3-3.5 - completion of analysis, writing, and
publication.
