Learning a Field Language

Learning a language is a major undertaking, but it does not have to be a daunting task. This concise, practical guide is written for motivated individuals planning to live among people who speak a different language, where there are no classes, textbooks, or trained teachers. Burling's straightforward approach assumes that learning a culture and learning a language go hand-in-hand, that the learner wishes to use the language as a tool, and that the language to be learned is not a widely spoken one. Burling emphasizes comprehension and vocabulary and offers useful techniques that make learning easier. His illuminating discussions help reduce the frustrations that often accompany a task of this magnitude. This small but powerful book can contribute to the personal joy of fieldwork as well as to the richer scholarship that comes from working in the language of the community under study.