workshop on the languages of melanesia

So I am currently in Kioloa, Australia–about 3.5 hrs from Canberra–at an informal conference on Papuan linguistics entitled ‘Workshop on the Languages of Melanesia’. It’s my first time to attend a linguistics conference. I have been looking forward to it for months. It’s not every day one gets to fly to Australia and present a paper on his linguistic work to an interested audience. Most of the people I socialize with aren’t linguists at all, so it is good to be in this kind of environment. It’s a short workshop–only 2 days–and now we are already halfway through the presentations. Today these were the presentations:

Tone in Mian and other Mountain Ok languages, by Sebastian Fedden
What can we say about the Sepik family?, by William Foley
The Kaoka speakers are visiting: archives, museums and language documentation, by Deborah Hill
A preliminary investigation on Papuan Malay: language images and attitudes, by Fanny Cottet & Yusuf Sawaki
Nuts to years, by Peter Lincoln
Contact-induced language and social change in southern Bougainville, by Bethwyn Evans
Reconstructing Awyu-Dumut mood, by Ruth Wester

Lots of interesting topics! I’m excited to see what tomorrow brings! I will be presenting on ‘Epenthesis and vowel reduction in Ma Manda’. I will discuss how these two processes are diachronically related, and I will relate them to recent literature on epenthetic and intrusive vowels. As it’s my first time in such an environment, I didn’t feel comfortable presenting anything ‘new’ or ‘unusual’. Instead, my goal is to present my own data and relate it to the linguistic literature already out there. This is my chance to get my feet wet and present a paper for the first time. It’s also a chance to learn about recent developments in the field of Papuan linguistics–particularly relevant is Foley’s discussion on Sepik languages this morning. I will return to Ukarumpa and present to all the translators there the most relevant data so they will be aware of recent findings and research. Another benefit is the chance to rub shoulders with Papuan linguists, many who are doing PhD research on languages of New Guinea. I confess I am overwhelmed by all of the people who are so much more informed and educated than I am. In spite of this, I am trying to humbly present my own findings and get feedback. These days in the realm of Papuan linguistics the name of SIL seems to carry some negative baggage, I am finding. These linguists of such high caliber (from the ANU and various other institutions) see the work of SIL as often being of low quality. SIL members spend so much longer in their fieldwork sites than most professional linguists do, so we are in a position to have the highest quality of linguistic descriptions. However, this is often not the case due to the many obligations that pull on an SIL translator. Anyway, one of my main hopes this weekend is to be a good representative of an SIL member who is competent and interested in professional linguistic fieldwork. Moreover, I hope to be a good representative of a Christian. Not just a nominal Christian, but a practicing, devout, well-thought-out believer in Christ. Not someone who follows the conservative status quo, but who pursues the Christ who brings freedom in all aspects of life. I hope I am representing my Savior well. I would hate to think that I could be a part of defaming my Christian faith and heritage. It’s difficult, however, to socialize with such an academic crowd and remain faithful to my own beliefs. I want to be agreeable and friendly. This occasionally causes me to be fearful of taking a stand for the sake of Christ, because I want to be liked and appreciated. It’s a balance I am searching to find in a new environment, in a new place, and at a new time in my life.