The Purpose of
Descriptive Linguistics

I aim to describe and analyze a vernacular language that is in danger of becoming extinct. Our world contains over 7,000 languages, but recent years have seen many of them disappear at an alarming rate. Vernacular languages are irreplaceable intellectual property shared by humankind; they are a product of wisdom. In an attempt to preserve these vernacular languages and provide a written record of them, I have been pursuing my research in this field since my fourth year in the undergraduate program. I am conducting this research project in the Republic of Vanuatu, an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean comprising 83 islands large and small. This country is home to a variety of linguistic phenomena and mysteries that are outside what we would normally imagine. These lie hidden in vernacular languages that have no written form and are spoken in remote areas.
I live with the local people under the same roof to conduct my research, attempting to understand not only their language but also the culture, customs, and unique perspectives of the world that are reflected in the language. Having been deeply immersed in the material culture, I learn much through living on an isolated island without electricity, water, or gas, and am striving daily to apply these experiences to my research and education.