Progressing into Phase 2: Project Prep Work
Last week, the proposal was submitted for tutor review, which marked the end of the first phase of this module. Now, the next step is to start testing out the viability of the proposed project and start doing formal research and also start building the contact base.
Going into Think Tank Mode
I have not been very active on the ideas wall these couple of days, but I have been doing some brainstorming and just thinking out loud during the peer-to-peer sessions, which are proving quite helpful. I started off, by looking up some articles and see what others have to say with regards to diminishing languages, and I also want to look into how other countries are addressing the issue. From what I have read so far, many agree that language has a direct link to the speakers’ culture, and that a language is more than just a way of expressing oneself. In addition, it seems that linguists are turning towards many different forms of technologies, from app development to even audio snippets of the spoken languages to preserve it. There is still a lot more reading material to cover, and I would like to find some research papers or dissertations that discuss minority and diminishing languages and ideally, discussed in relation to the speakers’ culture.
The last couple of days I was also thinking about what the best way to approach the research is. Should I look at the impact of the language on a people and culture? Should I look into how expats are finding their experience with the Maltese culture first, then address the issues that show up in the results. I am at odds at the moment as prior to starting reading some of the material, my target audience was expats over 18 years of age and employed. However, one of the articles mentions the concept of ‘sponge time’ – the period where children can “absorb” whatever they are taught, and it is the best time to expose a child to a new language. This made me re-think whether I should stick to my original target audience, or shift to even younger expats, or even expat families.
Apart from this, although I may have decided on the research question, I still need to figure out what I am going to ask the professionals in the industry. I have specific people in mind, but this will vary also depending on the angle I would take on my research. For the time being I was thinking of such go through the sources I have collected so far, and see if some pattern emerges from this, then proceed from there.
As for This Week
My main focus for this week is to set up the literature review page on my blog and continue reading what I have found so far. I am also looking for some statistical data in relation to expatriation, language, culture or anything that is related or that links them. I have checked the National Statistics Office already, however, there seems to be no such data. Up next is checking the Eurostat website. Some years ago there were projects that included foreign exchanges between countries to promote culture, so hopefully there is some data following up this European campaign.
