FIELDWORK MANUAL - draft fieldwork manual.pdf · Printed on 11/03/2009 Page 4 of 30 §1 Fieldwork The RCLT recognises that there are three major components that need to be considered:

FIELDWORK MANUAL

Fieldwork and

Your Wellbeing

Facsimile: +61 3 9467 3053 Website: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/rclt

Printed on 11/03/2009 Page 3 of 30

PPlleeaassee ttaakkee aa ffeeww mmiinnuutteess ttoo nnoottee tthhee ppooiinnttss oouuttlliinneedd iinn tthhiiss hhaannddbbooookk..

IIff,, aatt aannyy ssttaaggee,, yyoouu hhaavvee aannyy qquueessttiioonnss

aabboouutt aannyytthhiinngg ((ffiieellddwwoorrkk oorr ootthheerrwwiissee)),,

pplleeaassee ddoo nnoott hheessiittaattee ttoo aasskk..


§§11 FFiieellddwwoorrkk The RCLT recognises that there are three major components that need to be considered: 1) preparing Researchers to go to the field, 2) taking care of Researchers while there, and 3) welcoming Researchers back after their return. Most of the researchers from RCLT go to the field for extended periods of time (3-9 months). For some, this would be their first experience in the field. For others, this would be their first experience of being in the field for such an extended period, or in such rough conditions. The purpose of this handbook is to help prepare you for fieldwork – focusing on the non-academic side of things. You should of course be preparing yourself academically as well and this should be discussed in detail with your academic supervisor. It is hoped that this handbook will document the whole process from start to finish so that you know what to expect before, during and after fieldwork. It is not intended that this document or the peer-support group should replace the advice and help your academic supervisor can provide. You should consult your academic supervisor every step of the way. §§22 AA bbrriieeff oouuttlliinnee ooff wwhhaatt nneeeeddss ttoo hhaappppeenn 1) Prepare for ethics approval within 4 weeks of commencement. Approval can take up to 8 weeks and you will NOT be allowed to go to the field without ethics clearance. (Fellows employed on ARC grants are not required to complete this process, as the Chief Investigator of the grant would have had to do so before accepting the grant).

2) Read through this handbook thoroughly and ensure you understand what is required. 3) Six weeks before your planned departure date, meet with your academic supervisor and your peer-support group1 to discuss your preparations for the field. 4) At least four weeks before your planned departure date submit a completed Budget request, La Trobe University Travel Form, Risk Assessment form, RCLT Risk Management Form and Travel Itinerary to the Executive Officer for checking and approvals. 5) Whilst in the field, maintain regular contact with your academic supervisor and peer-support group as far as practical (university rule states that PhD students should report to their supervisor once a month – but we realise this may not always be possible while you’re in the field, so do the best you can). This can either be in the form of email, phone calls, faxes or regular airmail. This serves three purposes – to let us know you are safe, to give you a chance to reflect on how things are going and seek support if necessary, and to report back on your academic progress. 6) On return from fieldwork, you will be required to meet with your peer-support group to discuss your experiences in the field from a non-academic perspective. This should happen within 2 weeks of your return from the field. It is assumed that you will also report back to your academic supervisor, as this is vital to the progress of your project. 7) Complete a report of your fieldwork and provide receipts to acquit any funds provided by the University for your trip.

1 Peer-support group comprises at least 2 persons, one of whom, preferably (this may not always be possible) a more senior member of RCLT who has experience with your field site or similar. You will be invited to nominate people for your peer-support group. Your primary supervisor is not part of your peer-support group.


§§33 PPrreeppaarriinngg RReesseeaarrcchheerrss ttoo ggoo ttoo tthhee ffiieelldd 3.1 ETHICS APPROVAL The RCLT has compiled a set of past applications and correspondence to give you some idea about how the process works and what to expect. Since some of the questions in the ethics application form are difficult to interpret appropriately it is very useful to read over a couple of previous applications before completing your own. To view this material, see the Executive Officer. ABOUT THE ETHICS APPLICATION PROCESS 1. What is ethics approval? All research at La Trobe University that involves other human beings must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and relevant Australian State and Commonwealth legislation together with University regulations and policies. In practice, this means that the Faculty’s/University’s Ethics Committee has to check whether fieldwork conducted at the RCLT is in accordance with these rules and give explicit approval. 2. Why is it necessary? Compliance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research is a statutory requirement imposed by the Australian government. If the university does not comply, the Australian Research Council can decide to withdraw some or all of its funding. 3. Why is it important? Strong working relationships with members of the speech community are crucial to your success in the field. By asking questions about who you expect to work with and how you will recruit and engage with them, the ethics application process invites you to imagine what fieldwork will be like and to address potential difficulties before they arise. Good preparation in this area supports good outcomes for your research and your experiences in the field more generally. 4. How can it be useful to you and your project? Whereas the applications you have made about your project to get to this point have focussed on academic issues, the ethics application is solely concerned with what you intend to do while you’re in the field. Take the opportunity to reflect on your goals and the strategies you plan to use in meeting them. 5. To find out more... See the following website http://www.latrobe.edu.au/rgso/ethics/ for further information and related resources (including a copy of the document ‘Introduction to La Trobe University Research Ethics and Integrity Policies and Procedures’). The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research is available at the following site: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/e72syn.htm


3.2 THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFOREHAND For a more comprehensive checklist, you may want to consult Jim Fox’s Field Checklist at http://www.stanford.edu/~popolvuh/field-checklist.htm. Before your field trip, your peer-support group will guide you through this checklist to clarify issues, discuss your individual situation and help you prepare. Please be aware that, in the end, it is your own responsibility (not the peer-support group’s) to follow up on the issues raised, and to actively find out about any other issues that may be of relevance to your individual situation, but are not covered by this list. Checklist:

• Read the LTU Travel Guide (http://www.latrobe.edu.au/finance/travel.html) and insurance-related issues (http://www.latrobe.edu.au/insurance/ins6.html), and follow the outlined procedures.

• Inform yourself about risks to your health and safety. Good places to start are the Travel Doctor (http://www.tmvc.com.au/) and the Australian Government (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/).

• Make a plan for dealing with emergencies. This includes knowing how to reach: - relevant national and international agencies (e.g., hospital, police, embassy, insurance, credit

card company, travel agent) - local, regional and national contacts - the Executive Officer, your supervisors and members of your peer-support group

• Apply for permits well ahead of time. This includes: - visa and research permits - make sure your passport is valid for as long as required (many countries require that your

passport be valid for at least 6 months after you leave that country) - specific entry requirements (e.g., a valid vaccination against Yellow Fever) - other permits such as driver’s licence, travel permit, recording permit etc.

• Make travel arrangements. Do not forget to check for luggage allowances and customs regulations.

• Make medical preparations: - consult a doctor about health risks and vaccinations (local GP, Travel Doctor) - pay attention to preventing illnesses transmitted through insects and water - purchase all relevant medical supplies, and do not forget supplies of any other type of

medication that you regularly take - make sure all your vaccinations are recorded in an International Certificate of Vaccination

(in accordance with the World Health Organization) - consider taking a Wilderness First Aid course and / or taking a health manual with you to

the field2

• Think about equipment needs (including software if you plan to take a laptop): - talk to the Executive Officer about availability and purchasing of equipment - test all equipment to ensure that (i) you can operate it and (ii) no parts are missing - give some thought to questions of safely storing and charging equipment, and backing up

recordings. These steps may require some additional equipment. - If possible, prepare backup equipment, in case your primary equipment malfunctions.

2 The Travel Doctors often sell such booklets. Another popular option is the following book: Werner, David. 1977. Where there is no doctor: a village health care handbook. Palo Alto: Hesperian Foundation. (LTU Bundoora Library Call No. 616.024 WER). See also http://www.hesperian.org/.


• Money-related issues: - inform yourself about the logistics of changing money - inform yourself about how you can transfer money to your field site - give some thought to the safe storage of your money and other valuables - think about ways of compensating your consultants and host communities, and consider

taking gifts from home

• Make copies of documents. Take one copy with you, and leave another copy with the Executive Officer or the peer-support group. This includes copies of: - passport, visa, research permit, other permits - health certificate - insurance policy - tickets and other travel documents, travel itinerary - list of important addresses and contact numbers

• Make sure you can access your LTU web e-mail account or have forwarded e-mails to another account.

• Consider taking the following to the field: - a stack of business cards - a supply of passport-sized photos

• Consult available literature on the speech community and the local area.

• Start making contacts: - people who have been to your field site or in its vicinity - people currently inside the country, e.g., our colleagues at regional and national universities,

missionaries, volunteers etc.

It is very important to create a local support network. The people above will not only be able to give you information about what to expect in your field site, but also to introduce you to other useful contacts who can help you in emergencies. We urge you to start setting up such a support network well ahead of your field trip – be aware that this will take time and personal commitment.

• Think carefully about what to expect when you get to the field (see also §4: what to expect in the field). Things to consider include: - personal safety - sleeping and living conditions, toiletries and cleaning, cooking and eating - electricity - local behavioural norms, including appropriate clothing - local travel and transport conditions - managing issues of privacy and recreation, e.g., taking trips away from the field site, taking

recreational books and music You are strongly encouraged to read available literature, e.g. anthropological, travel, fieldwork literature, to better prepare yourself for what to expect in the field. The importance of understanding cultural conventions and the need to be culturally sensitive to the community cannot be stressed enough. Again, you are reminded that you should be speaking to your academic supervisor as well about these things.

• You should discuss all academic issues with your supervisor(s). Those academic issues that relate to questions of managing health and safety should in addition be discussed with the peer-support group. This includes: - fieldwork schedule - balancing academic achievements and personal health - data collection methods and their cultural appropriateness - ethical aspects of data collection and archiving


3.3 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS 1) All PhD students and Postdoctoral Research Fellows should consult with their supervisor to

work out a reasonable fieldwork schedule. 2) Obtain written quotes for airfares from one of the approved travel agents (currently Campus

Travel: 86335543; STA: 94781868). 3) Meanwhile, prepare a budget for fieldwork. See following ‘Fieldwork budget for PhD students

and Postdoctoral Research Fellows’ for more information on budget preparation. (steps 2 + 3 do need to happen concurrently because these quotes normally have a short life-

span, i.e. they expire very quickly) 4) Once the budget has been approved by the RCLT Director, let the Executive Officer have a

copy of the itinerary and quote so a Purchase Order can be raised to pay for the airfare.

NOTE that under no circumstances should payments be made on personal credit cards for travel paid for by the university.

NOTE that any changes to your itinerary after this should be communicated to the Executive Officer immediately.

5) Download and complete the ‘La Trobe University Travel Form’ and other necessary documents.

PhD students need to also complete a ‘La Trobe University Student Travel Form’ and an ‘Application for outside research and off campus status’ form. All Researchers also need to complete a Risk Assessment Checklist. Links to these forms can be found from the RCLT web site, under ‘Staff Resources’.

6) Please ensure that all completed forms are submitted to the Executive Officer at least four

weeks before the proposed commencement of fieldwork.

NOTE that all overseas travel has to be approved in advance by the Director, Dean of Faculty, Risk Management Unit and the Insurance office. Any delays in submitting the forms could result in either not receiving the approvals on time (in which case you may not be permitted to leave) or not receiving the funds for your field trip before you depart.

NOTE that it is your responsibility to check out the La Trobe University Insurance website (http://www.latrobe.edu.au/insurance/travel1.html) for any travel warnings pertaining to your fieldwork location. You should also download relevant insurance information to take with you should you require emergency medical treatment. Please familiarise yourself with the insurance coverage the university provides before departure.

7) When the travel request has been approved, a copy will be sent to you by the Human Resources

department. Please give the Executive Officer a copy of this. The funds for your trip should also be transferred into your nominated account before you depart. If this has not happened the week before you leave, please let the Executive Officer know.

NOTE that while on fieldwork, a diary of all expenses and all receipts should be kept. Where no receipts are available, this should be noted in the diary accordingly. You will be required to complete a Fieldwork Report upon your return which includes an acquittal of all funds advanced to you for your field trip.


3.4 FIELDWORK BUDGET FOR PHD STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS The Faculty and/or RCLT may be able to provide limited funds to cover fieldwork expenses. These cover some, or all of the following: Main travel Round-trip economy-class air fare at cheapest rate from Melbourne to nearest city. Local Travel (a) From nearest city to field site. (b) For occasional trips from field site to nearby town to replenish supplies, etc. (c) Possibly, to other locations where the language is spoken, to obtain information on other languages or language varieties. Payment to consultants The actual rates of pay vary tremendously. They should relate to the basic wage in the country of fieldwork. Payments may be all in cash, all in goods in kind, or — generally — in a mixture of the two. Medical expenses Cost of necessary inoculations in Melbourne and of basic medical supplies taken into the field. Fee for research visa (if applicable) Accommodation in major city (generally just a few days) Living costs (sleeping and eating) in field If applicable, RCLT will reimburse this to the extent that living costs in the field cost more than they would in Melbourne. (In particular, researchers employed on ARC or other grants should clarify with the Chief Investigator of the grant what will and what will not be covered.) That is, work out F, estimated cost of living in Field, and M, cost of living in Melbourne (weekly cost of accommodation, plus cost of food per week). If F exceeds M, then the excess (F minus M) may be applied for. In our experience, F is almost always less than M, so that nothing is claimable under this heading. Note If applicable RCLT will provide recording equipment (each field researcher is encouraged to also take along some form of backup equipment), cassettes or mini-discs (if needed), and some types of battery. The choice of recording equipment used is left to the individual. There is, however, a budgeted limit for such purchases and this may change from time to time. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for the purchase and receipt of such equipment before you leave for fieldwork. You will need to discuss your needs with the Executive Officer and/or Director.


§§44 IInn tthhee FFiieelldd –– tthhiinnggss yyoouu sshhoouulldd kknnooww

Please note: This section should not be read as a list of instructions about what to do and what not to do in the field. Consider it a prompt of all the things YOU need to think about while in the field. Consider the questions and the anecdotes carefully and think about what YOU would do in each of these situations.

The stories here reflect the choices these people have made given the options that were available to them – they may not be the best choice in your situation. You need to weigh up the balance between going along with local customs and looking out for your own health, well-being, and comfort. The motivation for including these stories is for you to know that you always have a choice, that you are not locked into any situation, that you can make choices that you think are right in terms of your health and welfare. If things go wrong, you can always come home. Also you can be assured that there are people here who understand and will try to help you through any difficulties. 4.1 General principles: 1) There are risks involved in fieldwork no matter where your fieldwork site is. 2) You are expected to make informed choices about how you manage risk. If something does go

wrong, it is not necessarily your fault and it certainly does not mean that your field trip is a failure.

3) The RCLT is committed to supporting you in seeking out relevant information and advice as needed. Please let us know if there is something that you think should be covered in this handbook that isn’t.

4) Establishing local support networks in the country, district and towns near to your field site is very important. When making a first trip to the field, it is well worth taking time to build up these contacts, and on subsequent trips, spending time developing and expanding those contacts. In difficult times, those are the people who can help you. If possible, you should try to get in touch with people who are in a high position of the social scale (eg. village chiefs, clan leaders, indigenous organisations, community leaders in nearby towns, missionary organisations, political leaders, senior police, academic colleagues in the country etc.). If they support your fieldwork, this can make your life in the field MUCH easier.

4.2 Risk management: In making decisions where there is an element of risk, it is useful to apply some common sense – as opposed to denial at the one extreme or paralysing caution at the other. Here are some questions that might be useful to explore:

1. What is at risk? Is there a risk to life or health? risk to property? both of these? 2. How severe are the possible consequences? 3. How likely is it that the risk will occur? 4. What can be done to minimise the risk? 5. If appropriate actions are taken how effective can they be expected to be? 6. What other support or resources can you draw on in managing this risk?

Issues and risks you might face include: Fire or Theft Illness Injury Civil unrest Personal attack Personal issues Alcohol and Drugs Personal hygiene Weather conditions Personal wellbeing

and mental health


In making decisions about managing risk, remember: 1. Your safety and security, and that of other participants in the project, is the first

priority. 2. The interests of the project come second. 3. You should feel confident that your decisions in relation to managing risk will be respected

and supported by the Centre in a climate of confidentiality and protection of your professional interests.

4. All of these issues should be discussed with La Trobe’s Risk Management Unit before your first trip to the field.

In the event that something does go wrong, you should be aware that:

1. The University has a duty of care towards its staff and students. 2. Staff and students are expected to communicate with the University about any bad

experiences or difficulties that you encounter. It is in your interest to do so, so that appropriate support can be offered.

3. There are advocacy and support systems available through the University and beyond that can assist in any situation.

4. The most lasting damage occurs when problems are not acknowledged and managed appropriately – they can resonate through a whole career or mean that a career is abandoned.

5. You are entitled to seek help in whatever way you think is most appropriate. This may include counselling (paid for by the University), claims for additional medical expenses or claims for additional leave.

While this is all true, it may not help you if you have an immediate need and cannot reach La Trobe easily. Therefore it is important to have

a) Local support networks, people with some local influence who can arrange to get you easily out of the village into a safe location such as a hospital.

b) Enough money on you to pay for quick transportation in an emergency. c) Knowledge of the location of local hospitals, doctors, police stations and so on, in case you

might need them. d) Knowledge of local travel agents who can help arrange travel back home, if needed.

4.3 Keeping yourself safe

The kinds of issues and risks you might face include: 1) Fire or Theft: This might include money, equipment, passports and travel documents and other personal possessions. In the worst case, you might lose everything. You need to be aware of what University Insurance will cover. You may be required to get a police report and sometimes getting this may cause more problems than it solves. In some cases it may be wise to leave some of your possessions and papers with a trusted person in a nearby village or town; but you will always have to have your passport and money with you and these are therefore always at risk of loss.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • Where is the nearest police station? • How can I get money if I lose everything? • Do I have the contact number of my embassy? • What are the insurance requirements for getting repayment?


Yvonne Treis

Gerd Jendraschek

2) Illness & Injury We can all expect to have bouts of illness during a long field trip. Possible illnesses range from minor stomach and respiratory problems to acquisition of serious contagious diseases. In the worst case, fieldworkers have died after not being able to get treatment. It is important to ensure that you have a good understanding of preventative measures and treatments for any locally endemic diseases in your field site area (e.g. malaria). If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you need to discuss these with your doctor, and others including the Insurance Office, so that you know how best to deal with them before you leave. If you are going to be a long distance from good hospitals and have such a condition, you may want to change your fieldwork situation. This will always be respected by RCLT. It is your responsibility to inform the University of any pre-existing condition and a medical certificate from your doctor verifying your ability to travel may be required before your trip is approved. There are currently no limitations on travel for staff members who are pregnant, provided their doctor deems that they are fit to travel. Airline policies may include limitations on overseas and/or domestic travel and these should be checked before confirming any bookings. Injuries may range from minor injuries through to serious injury in car or bus crashes, or other accidents. In many places differences in safety standards and infrastructure mean that the risks involved in travel may be significantly different to what you are generally used to. Always take local warnings about travel dangers seriously.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • Are there any illnesses endemic to the area? • How will I manage prevention of these? • Where is the nearest hospital and doctor? • Do I know how to get there, quickly?

Stephen Morey

I had money stolen from my room in several villages. The first couple of times this happened I did nothing; the third time I reported it to my host. There was so much upset and distress caused to the host by this that I regretted informing them. The next time a theft occurred in another village, I didn’t report it. In Ethiopia, I learned that people made a difference

between “taking” and “stealing”. If an item that is not locked away goes missing, it is not considered a serious matter. In fact the owner is considered to be at fault for not taking appropriate care. It is only considered ‘true’ stealing if an item that is locked away in a box, cupboard or suitcase is taken.

Since there had been occasional hold-ups between my fieldwork village in Papua New Guinea and the provincial capital, I left valuables such as credit cards, passport, or plane tickets in town, as there was no need to have them with me in the village. I left them either at a bank safe, or the safe of the hotel where I would stay in town, or a person from the village who lives in town. It is difficult to decide which option is the safest and most convenient. If you think the hotel or the bank are well run and you know the managers, that is a good option. My local consultants told me that I should only trust hotels that are run by expats, as local business people were not trustworthy.


Seino van Breugel

Stephen Morey

Birgit Hellwig

• Do I have a plan to get back home if I need to? • Have I made a will and given instructions for what is to be done to my research tapes, notes

etc., if I die in the field? • If I am travelling a long distance, does someone at the other end know I am coming, who can

inform people about an accident if it occurs? 3) Civil unrest In many parts of the world there is civil unrest, in the form of local insurrections, inter-group hostilities that sometimes become violent, even rebellions. The effect of these can range from simple inconvenience (local strikes or blockades) through to seriously dangerous situations. It is wise of course to try to avoid any area that has civil unrest. But should civil unrest arise in the area where you are, you should always take the advice of local people who are your friends and protectors about the advisability of travelling or doing the things that you had originally planned. It is a good idea to remain aware of local issues and local difficulties; read the news, listen to what your friends and consultants tell you about local events on an ongoing basis and even before you leave for the field. In some countries it is unwise to travel at the time of elections. Know when these are going to be, and plan to be somewhere else.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • Who are the local people whose advice I trust and follow? • Where is the nearest Australian or other embassy if I must get out of danger? • Am I aware of the local issues and causes of civil unrest?

In May 2004 I was in India for the general election; on that day I remained inside the house on the advice of my host despite having a great interest in the elections. As it turned out, there were several bombings at railway stations up the line on that day. The next day, everything was fine.

I was travelling on a motorbike in India when a stone punctured a tyre and I fell, deeply cutting my hand. I went to a local hospital to have the wound stitched up and I was prescribed antibiotics. After about two weeks of regular attendance at a hospital to have the dressings changed and the wound cleaned, the wound was still badly infected and was showing signs of necrosis. I decided to go to Bangkok for further treatment. It was my view that the hygiene levels at the Indian hospitals were well below acceptable standards and so was not willing to risk my health further at Indian hospitals.

On one of my last fieldtrips to Nigeria, I unexpectedly found myself confronted with civil unrest. Violence broke out the very day I was travelling by local transport to my field site. As we got closer to the site, we encountered more and more worrying signs - until finally, we met a car coming towards us whose driver stopped us and told us about violence and killings in the towns ahead. All Nigerians in my bush taxi argued against continuing our journey: we turned back, and learned later that religiously motivated violence had lead to a large-scale massacre in the town just adjacent to my field site. The army moved in relatively quickly and managed to stop further major outbreaks of violence, but the situation remained highly volatile, and all my Nigerian friends and colleagues strongly advised against me going to this area again. I heeded their advice, and instead worked with speakers who happened to live in a town well outside the affected area. I did not return to my field site until the next year when the situation had calmed down.


Tonya Stebbins

Yvonne Treis

Simon Overall

4) Personal attack There is always a slight chance of assault, rape, or other serious attack. These risks can be managed to some extent by ensuring that you establish and are able to rely on networks of trustworthy people in the communities where you work. Always pay attention to the ways that local people keep themselves safe and accept their advice about steps you should take.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • Do I know the local cultural norms regarding personal behaviour? • Can I read the signs when someone is getting upset with me, and alter my behaviour to avoid

problems? • Is there anyone around who will act as a cultural mentor and provide me with some guidance? • Who can I ask when I don’t understand why people are behaving in particular ways?

I got off a bus early in the morning in a small town I had visited often, and was walking towards a hotel that I had stayed in before, when I was attacked and robbed. Afterwards people told me that this area was known to be dangerous, and that I should have stayed on the bus until it got light, as locals do. If only I'd thought to ask their advice beforehand!

While in PNG, my husband and I lived in our own house and were generally self sufficient. The house was not very secure – there were bolts on the doors that could be padlocked but only flimsy screens on the windows. Whenever my husband was away, at least one younger woman from the community was assigned to come and sleep at my house. Local women in the village never sleep alone in a house. I really appreciated the fact that people in the village were thinking about and protecting my well-being in this way.

While staying at my field site in Ethiopia for the first time, I was not aware that it was inappropriate to look into men’s eyes and to display a too cheerful behaviour when speaking with them, because this was easily interpreted as a pick-up attempt. As a severe consequence of this, a man entered my hotel room uninvited and he could only be made to leave with very harsh words.


Tonya Stebbins

5) Personal issues When going away for extended periods, we place our personal lives on hold to a certain extent but not everything waits for the end of the trip. During that time many things may happen; relatives or friends may become ill or die, close friends or relatives may marry, or go through some other life-changing event. You or your partner may become pregnant or you may face divorce or separation. If you have to interrupt your fieldwork, for family reasons or any other personal reasons, you may have to pay the cost of that trip. You have to work out the best balance between work and other aspects of your life. The University and the RCLT, however, do take seriously their responsibilities to ensure that you are supported through any difficulty. You should also take into consideration the possible consequences of interrupting your fieldwork. The University and RCLT do not expect you to regard your research more important than your family and personal relations.

Questions you need to know the answers to:

• Am I keeping in contact with my family, friends and loved ones enough? • Do they know the best way to contact me in the case of an emergency? • In the event of a personal loss of friend or relative, have I thought about what to do?

6) Personal relationships in the field Extended fieldwork gives you the opportunity to develop new relationships with people you would never otherwise have met. Because of the intercultural setting involved in fieldwork and your relative isolation from your other established social networks, these relationships can have a profound effect on how you experience fieldwork and how you feel about yourself. There are many different types of relationships that can have this kind of impact, for example, friendships with people at a similar age and life stage, the relationships you develop with consultants and their families, or romantic attachments. Just like your friendships, family, and romantic attachments at home, things may not always run smoothly in these relationships but at the same time, they can also be profoundly meaningful and rewarding. A significant proportion of people who do fieldwork have found their life partners while in the field or become very close to the elderly consultants with whom they work. Although some fieldwork manuals suggest that it is ‘unprofessional’ to get involved with people while on fieldwork, it is important to be able to acknowledge these legitimate relationships and to take care of yourself and others within them.

Roughly half way through an extended fieldtrip to PNG I heard that my grandfather was very sick and likely to die. I was sorry to be away in the field as I had previously told my family that if my grandparents needed me to assist them at some stage I'd be happy to do that. But by the time I heard what was happening, the family had already sorted out a plan of care so it didn't make sense to rush back to help. As his health and mental state deteriorated, it became clear that returning from the field to see my grandfather again before he died would only increase the burden on my grandmother. Because I was in a very isolated place, it was several weeks after my grandfather's death before I got a letter from my father letting me know that he had finally passed away. Of the thirteen cousins in my family, I was one of only two to miss the funeral. I don't know whether or not I would have chosen to come back for the funeral if I had known sooner but having better communication in place would at least have given me the choice. Now when I travel out to a remote village I try and make sure I can take a satellite phone along and check in weekly with family. I think they find this very reassuring too.


Tonya Stebbins

Stephen Morey


• How am I feeling about the relationships that are developing around me? • How am I feeling about myself in these relationships? • Do I need support or advice about how things are going? Who is an appropriate person to turn

to for advice? • How will these relationships be effected by my return from the field? Is there anything I need

to deal with before my return?

During my first experiences of fieldwork in British Columbia, Canada, I was shocked by the racism that members of the host community experience and overwhelmed and confused by my feelings in response. I regularly felt like a spectacle at community gatherings: not only was I the only blond in the room and taller than practically everyone else, but I was also regularly choked up with tears triggered by a speech or some drumming or singing that everyone else seemed to take quite calmly. I had a very lonely time on fieldwork because I felt quite awkward and struggled to get past this in order to form effective social relationships within the community.

One of the saddest deaths was of a young woman whose mother was a great help to my work. She was about 22 I think, and had been sick for years, but she had improved and so I was hoping when I went back to the village to find her in the pink of health. The day I arrived in the village I was told that she had died the day before. There would be a ceremony on the 7th day after she died, and if I could attend it would be a great merit for her, I was told. So of course I changed my plans so I could be there. A year or two earlier, her mother had asked for a silk hat from Thailand as a gift, so I got one, but not being a fashion person it was too big. Still she loved it and I took a photo of her wearing it. This was the picture they used at her funeral.

Working in the same areas for over 12 years I have seen a number of the people who helped me in my work pass away. There was one old man, who used to tell a story of the Buddha. In one of his past lives the Buddha was a very wise man called Mahosatha. He used to say that nobody knew where Mahosatha went in his later life, but since he was born in Mithila, he might have gone to Australia! So we called each other Mahosatha. He used to tell me when I arrived in the village that he had dreamed two or three nights before that I would come. As he was dying, he told his daughter that he would like to telephone me, but he had no phone, and he had never used one and so he couldn’t. I have his words on tape, but it’s not the same as being there with him.


On my first trip to Papua New Guinea, I had to wear clothes with long sleeves and legs because of the mosquitoes. I switched to short trousers one day, and regretted it during the night as the mosquito bites would itch so much I couldn’t sleep. I tried to use repellent but that made me sweat even more. On my second trip, I got gradually used to the mosquitoes and could wear short trousers during the day. To cope with the heat, I also try to schedule sessions with consultants during the cooler parts of the day, before noon or after sunset; neither myself nor the locals can concentrate in the afternoon heat.

Tonya Stebbins

In June 2002 I was in PNG for an extended trip. After four months in the village I was desperate for a break and when an excuse came along I took a single engine outboard motor dinghy on the open ocean at the height of the rainy season to get to town. I travelled against the advice of local people. The ocean was brown with run-off from torrential rain and littered with logs bigger than the boat. It was also very windy and often the boat was dwarfed by the waves. The skills of the boat operator kept me safe but I would never do it again. I was lucky not to have drowned.

Gerd Jendraschek

7) Weather conditions Many of our field sites have very different weather conditions, extreme and constant heat; cyclones, tsunami, persistent rain, high humidity and so on. These can be very difficult to live with and manage.

Sometimes you might find the weather conditions hamper your ability to work because you are not accustomed to that type of weather. This is not your fault.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • Do I know what kind of weather conditions I will possibly encounter? • Have I got the right equipment, clothing etc. to manage it? • Is travel possible at all times? • What risks are involved in travel in bad weather?


Gerd Jendraschek

4.4 Keeping yourself well and happy Some other fundamental things to think about:

8) Personal wellbeing and mental health: Everybody needs time off. A normal working week is 37 hours; with two days off for the weekend, evening rest, public holidays and so on. In the field you may get almost none of these, and you may be in a situation where you have very little privacy and personal space. This can be very stressful. It is also difficult to be in another culture and leave behind all your usual patterns of life. To counteract this you need to plan down time; time without work, time away from the field site and you need to plan small breaks while on site. There will be difficult times; times when you feel down, lonely, missing home, missing the comforts of a ‘normal’ life, missing your loved ones; times when work isn’t going as well as you think and you feel bad about it; times when you may get depressed. This is natural, and very common. And it passes. There are a lot of things you may be able to do to make the situation less difficult but they will vary depending on your field situation. However, if the difficulties do get too much, if you simply do not like your field site and the community you are working in, and cannot live there happily, you are allowed to leave and make other arrangements for doing research. But make sure you have given yourself, and the community, a fair chance first. You may be surprised at how things can turn around. Or not.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • What plans have I made for down time and relaxation (in the field site as well as away from it)? • Do I have enough novels / CDs and other distractions for my personal

entertainment/relaxation? • How will I manage the logistics and expenses involved in getting time away? • Am I keeping in contact enough with my loved ones and friends? • Am I getting enough time away from the field site?

9) Alcohol and drugs Every culture has a different attitude to drugs and alcohol, and every person has a different view about them. You are entitled to make your own decisions about these issues, but need to be aware of the legal issues and of the effect your decision may have on the community around you. It may be that in some communities men are regarded as somehow less manly if they don’t drink; equally it may be that women are regarded as too forward or ‘easy’ if they do. Refusing alcohol and drugs may be difficult in some circumstances, but you have every right to do so. Other substances such as betel nut and cigarettes pose similar difficulties; usually on a less dramatic scale: the sharing of these things can be a way of building relationships in the community but that does not mean you should feel obliged to take them and in any case local expectations about your behaviour may not be the same as for everyone else.

I like to read personal accounts of other fieldworkers while in the village. Life in the field was so different at first that I suffered from culture shock and thought the whole village was crazy. Reading how other researchers work in similar environments and cope with it changed my perception of my own situation. I had been like a soccer player on a rugby field, complaining that the locals constantly broke the rules; but they simply had different rules. I had to discover and accept that my behavioural norms were not applicable in their society.


Stephen Morey

Yvonne Treis

Gerd Jendraschek

Questions you need to know the answers to: • What are the cultural norms for use of alcohol and drugs? • How do these apply to females? How do they apply to males? • How can I refuse alcohol and drugs? • How will I be viewed if I accept them? • What are the laws of the land? Do I risk jail (or death) if I take substances?

10) Personal hygiene Bathing and toilet facilities are likely to be very different from home. Your hosts may assume that you know exactly how to behave but you might not. You might need to ask some of your hosts how you go about bathing. You might have an audience when you bathe and any of this might be embarrassing.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • Do I know who to ask about bathing and toilet facilities and customs? • What personal supplies will I need while I am in the field? • How will I maintain my supply of these?

conditions are “only” bad.

11) Food The food that is locally available or provided for you may be radically different from what you are used to. At first you may enjoy the novelty of this but there may be a stage at which it begins to lose its appeal. Even if you enjoy the food, it may pose challenges to your body as it adjusts to the different diet. Think about talking to your doctor about dietary supplements to take with you to the field. Make sure that you have access to some sort of familiar/comfort foods. If you know about the local diet, try eating it exclusively for a week or more and see how your body, and your spirits, respond. If you dislike it or cannot readily digest the food you are likely to be living off, consider how you will manage the situation.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • What is the local diet? • Can I handle it? If not, how will I manage that? • Who will do my cooking? • What equipment / supplies will I need? How will I get them? • How will I maintain supplies of my comfort food? What is a realistic supply?

In an Indian village the usual custom is to prepare bedding only just before sleeping time; whereas in Australia guests are shown their beds and the bathroom pretty much as soon as they arrive. After arriving, therefore, I always take a look around to find out where water, bathing, toilets and other facilities are.

When travelling or when staying in an unfamiliar area, I sometimes faced the problem of people not even leaving me alone when I had to go to the toilet (or the bush). I had to learn to ask people that understood my distress to “guard” the area, in order not to be under constant surveillance by curious people. With regard to sanitary conditions, I think it is always good to expect the very worst that one can imagine a toilet to be and then to feel a little relieved when the conditions are ‘only’ bad.

On my first trip the village, I was very surprised when people told me I could “have a shower” when we would arrive. What they meant was that they could bring up a bucket with water from the river. Like other “tourists” visiting the Sepik river, I hesitated to jump into the water. The water is very muddy so that you cannot see what is under the surface, and people would constantly ask me “Are you bathing?” when seeing me in the water. Later, playing in the river with the children became one of my favourite pastimes.


Tonya Stebbins

Birgit Hellwig

Gerd Jendraschek

Rik de Busser

12) Water Drinking unclean water on a regular basis can lead to long term low level health problems. It is therefore worth going to the trouble of providing yourself with clean water (e.g., water-purifying tablets, portable water filters, using boiled water). While such precautions will go a long way to help secure your own water supply, you will almost certainly find yourself in situations where it would be socially damaging to refuse a drink of possibly dodgy water: when visiting people, or when living in somebody else's household. Accepting such drinks may pose a health risk, but refusing them may be socially unacceptable. It won't be easy to find a balance between maintaining your health and maintaining your social obligations, and you may want to consider the following factors: your own sense of well-being, possibilities to negotiate your reservations with your hosts, possibilities of being offered alternative drinks (e.g., tea, soft drinks) or alternatives to drinks (e.g., kola nuts).


• Is the local water supply clean and reliable? • If not, how will I secure enough clean water? • What equipment (eg. stove, containers for carrying water) or supplies (eg. fuel, iodine tablets,

water filter) will I need for this and how will I maintain them?

I enjoyed a wide range of local foods prepared by the women in the village on my first visit of two weeks in the village in PNG and returned for an extended trip expecting to eat the same way (I only had one block of chocolate for backup for a period of several months!). On the extended trip my husband and I cooked for ourselves – and proved to be much less skilled in dealing with locally available ingredients. It also emerged that I got headaches from eating taro – the local staple. For the first two months I lost a kilo per week. Alternative arrangements had to be made (and substantial amounts of chocolate were involved).

In many parts of Africa, visitors are offered a glass of water before introductions and greetings can even begin. During my initial fieldwork, I made several attempts to explain my reservations. And although people accepted these explanations (possibly because numerous health campaigns had made them aware of the risks), it was clear that they found my refusal strange and somewhat inappropriate. After all, as some people pointed out to me, it's only a single glass of water. At some point, I decided to risk it and to accept these drinks - and our social relations changed perceptibly: my hosts respected me for doing as they did, and our relationships became warmer. And very fortunately, I haven't yet got seriously ill from drinking unclean water ...

On my first trip, I did not listen to locals in town when they told me I should buy lots of supplies from the supermarket before going to the village. I said that I would just eat what people in the village would cook for me from local ingredients -- and so I had to eat boiled fish with boiled bananas for two weeks; the sago bread that came with it tasted like a mixture of rubber and cardboard. On subsequent trips, I always came back from town with several boxes of supplies which I would prepare on my own small gas stove. Pasta with honey soy chicken from a tin can be so delicious…

The people I lived with in Taiwan are traditionally hunters, so they eat almost any animals. Most of them are quite edible and many of them are really nice. Pigs were a problem, though, mainly because they thought it was very healthy to cook the intestines with their contents in some kind of bitter soup. I ate this once, in a small village up in the mountains. On our way back I had a very painful time and when we arrived home I was the first to sprint to the toilet!


Yvonne Treis

Gerd Jendraschek

13) Sleep Your sleeping environment in the field site will be extremely different to what you are used to. Find out what you will most likely be sleeping in. Be prepared to have very different sleeping hours. You may have difficulty adjusting to new sleeping environments. Give yourself a bit of time to adjust. Some things that might be helpful include ear plugs and an eye mask.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • What is the normal sleeping environment? • Will I be in a hut? Will I have a hut to myself or will I be expected to share with others? • Am I prepared to sleep in that environment? • If not, what can I do about it? • Will I require special equipment (for example a mosquito net)?

14) Fitting in It is recommended that we adapt to the dress codes and daily rhythm of the communities we live in, to be aware of gender issues, politeness rules and other cultural norms and conventions. However, it often turns out to be impossible and, usually, not even expected by the society we live in that we “go native” completely. In order to ensure that you can carry out your work successfully, you have to decide for yourself how far you can adapt to the way of living of the people at your field site. Advantages and disadvantages of adaptation must be considered accordingly. Gender relations in many of our field sites differ significantly from those we may be used to. We need to be aware of what these are and not necessarily challenge them, however much we may feel they ought to be challenged.

Questions you need to know the answers to: • Do I know what the gender relations/expectations are in the community? Am I prepared to

abide by these while there?

During my fieldwork in Ethiopia, I wore trousers and hiking boots and decided not to put on skirts and fancy women’s shoes, although this was expected of women. I considered it impossible to jump across creeks, ditches and fences and walk long distances in this inadequate clothing and broke the dress code deliberately.

On my first trip, I had brought a mosquito net from Australia. When the locals saw it, they laughed at it saying that it was barely large enough for a child -- they could not believe I had never before slept under a mosquito net. Fortunately, I could borrow a tent during that trip, which was set up inside a hut. On later trips, I always brought a three-man tent for myself, as a tent has several advantages over a mosquito net: it also protected me against rats, dogs, cats, spiders, and so on; it protected me from rain (the roof of the hut was leaking); it gave me some privacy; and I could store stuff inside the tent and lock it with a padlock.


Simon Overall

15) Religion It is quite likely that the area you work in will have had missionary contact, and that there will be converts to some variety or varieties of Christianity among the people you meet. There may be assumptions about your personal religious beliefs. SIL missionaries also do linguistic fieldwork, and you may find experienced and enthusiastic consultants among the converts. On the other hand, Christians may reject traditional norms and beliefs, so they may not be ideal consultants for example, they may not know or may not be willing to tell traditional stories. If more than one religion coexists in the area, you need to consider carefully what the possible implications are if you align yourself with one group. You may be expected to participate in religious ceremonies, and it is worthwhile thinking in advance about what level of participation you are comfortable with and how you could avoid participation without causing offence. 4.5 The progress of your fieldwork All of us want to get a rich corpus of data and a good linguistic description done as part of our various projects. But the pace and success of data collection and analysis varies from place to place. We all do the best we can. And we never achieve a complete description and documentation of a language, and we never reach a point where we can say the job is truly done. In measuring our own success, we need to remember these points. We do the best job we can.

I lived in a Peruvian village in which church services were held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening, as well as Sunday morning, afternoon and evening. Although I initially accepted invitations to all the services, after the first week or two I settled on only attending one Sunday service. The compromise meant that the Christians in the community were not offended by my lack of religion.


§§55 RReettuurrnniinngg ffrroomm tthhee FFiieelldd 5.1 ADMINISTRATIVELY You will be required to complete a Fieldwork Report (link from our website) within 4 weeks of your return. As part of the report, you will be required to acquit the cash advance given to you for your fieldwork. This means producing receipts (or documentation) to account for all the money spent. STUDENTS should note that this is a legal requirement and so you will need to surrender all original receipts. You need to ensure you have receipts whenever it is reasonable to expect one (e.g. purchase of local air travel, hotel stays, any large purchases etc.). Failure to comply could mean that the cash advance will be added to your taxable income for the year. Students should also complete the appropriate form advising the University of their resumption of studies on-site. STAFF should note that while it is not currently a legal requirement for you to acquit all the cash advance (or per diem) given to you for your fieldwork, it is considered good business practise for RCLT to maintain some sort of record of expenses. For this purpose, we ask that you at least provide photocopies of receipts for major expenses. 5.2 DE-BRIEFING When you return from the field, you will be required to meet with your peer-support group to discuss your experiences in the field within two weeks of your return. You will have the right to seek additional assistance if required, such as personal counselling. The University provides access to confidential counselling service at no cost to employees and students. People often go through several stages of adaptation and reflection on their return. It may be several weeks or months before you decide that counselling would be useful. There is no deadline associated with seeking assistance. You may nominate who your peer-support members are in this case, but if you prefer not to, then the RCLT Executive Committee will assign a group to you, upon advice from RCLT members.

It is imperative that you and your peer-support group understand, and respect, that what is discussed during the de-briefing session is confidential. You are not obliged to discuss anything you do not wish to. The peer-support group is there to offer support and assistance if needed. The ultimate responsibility for your well-being remains with you.

There will be a record kept of the session, but without details of what was discussed. You and your peer-support group will decide together what is recorded and what is not. The de-briefing session is meant to be a conversation. But in order to ensure that all areas are covered, the following questions are meant as a prompt only.


1) How was the trip? How would you rate it on a scale of 1 (terrible)-10 (great). Why? 2) Were all your fieldwork goals achieved? How did you feel about that? 3) How did you cope with the challenge of the following and how did it make you feel?

o finding reliable consultants o establishing trust with the members of the speech community o finding appropriate housing and o finding acceptable food/diet?

4) How did you find your interaction with the consultants? Was there anything significant about it? 5) How did you deal with fatigue, frustration, loneliness? Did you get adequate personal time? 6) How was your health throughout the trip? Were there any specific threat to your health? If so, how did you deal with this? 7) What would you say was the biggest obstacle to

o the success of your research o your physical and mental well-being

How did you deal with this? 8) Where did your most effective/useful support come from? 9) What would you do differently next time? And what will you do again? i.e. what didn't work and how will you fix it next time? And what worked really well and does not need changing? 10. Do you have any suggestions for RCLT as to the best way to support researchers immediately before, during and after field trips? 11) Any additional comments/observations?


§§66 IInn CCeelleebbrraattiioonn ooff FFiieellddwwoorrkk The kind of fieldwork-based linguistic research conducted at RCLT offers you a very unique experience! Do not let the previous pages of dire warnings deter you. The advice and information have come from personal experience in the field and the more prepared you are, the better your chances are of having a very positive time in the field. Many have returned from the field with a very rich experience not available elsewhere. They have gotten to know the people, the culture and their beliefs. They have had the chance to share in the daily lives of others, often being welcomed or adopted as members of the family. This is a rare and special honour that is not possible without leaving the society we are accustomed to. Doing fieldwork in a situation of cultural immersion gives you a unique relationship with your language data that makes the process of analysis a very rewarding one. You discover aspects of the language and the culture that you perhaps wouldn’t have even thought of. Fieldwork can be an intense experience in itself. But this leads to great personal development. You discover things about yourself you wouldn’t have thought possible. One ‘extra’ benefit of fieldwork research is that you will always have something interesting to talk about to people you meet at conferences!

The village where I did research was occasionally visited by tourists. They would usually stay for an hour or so and then move on. The locals would perform dances, and display artefacts, but the tourists would learn little about the present-day living conditions of the people. As I was living with the locals, sharing their problems, disputes and hopes, the difficult moments were the most insightful. I had many discussions with people in the village, comparing life in the village with my “previous” life in the Western world. We agreed that both lifestyles had good and bad sides. The fieldwork experience will be valuable for the rest of my life, as it taught me how to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. No travel agent could have organised a similar experience. – Gerd Jendraschek.


My star sign is Taurus (the earthy bull) - it’s certainly not the star sign of an adventurer. All I usually think I want in life is a comfy paddock, a shady tree and some decent grass to chew – well, say, a cosy house and an interesting job. Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing in this career! Fieldwork takes me completely outside of myself and this can be quite shattering. What keeps me going back is the fact that there is simply nothing like the feeling that comes from being an outsider who is recognised, accepted and welcomed into a family or a community. I have learnt a lot about myself by discovering what other people can see in me. Without becoming vulnerable and dependent, there is no opportunity for others to provide the warmth and hospitality that they can extend so generously when they recognise the need. So, in spite of the difficulties and ambivalence, there is nothing in my field experience that I would ever give back and I will certainly be going again (and again). – Tonya Stebbins

I can't really say it was premeditated, but I managed to fit in quite well with the community I was living in. So good, in fact, that one of its members is now actually my wife. In theory, this means that in some cases I should now ask for ethical approval to talk to my own family! – Rik de Busser

Every year in January the Tai Ahom community celebrate a festival called Me Dam Me Phi, a worship of the ancestors. Since the research team I am working with was going to be in Assam for the festival, we contacted the most senior priest I know to ask him where we should go to watch the festival. He arranged for us to join a celebration held on the grounds of the former Ahom king’s palace at Gargaon, a 5 storey stone edifice that still stands. When I arrived I was invited to sit next to the chief priest during the celebration, a position of great honour. To witness an ancient ceremony, albeit renewed, in such surroundings was such a thrill. All the more so since I actually went to Assam in the first place in 1996 to investigate the Tai Ahom language. – Stephen Morey

There is a forest just near to the Tai Aiton village of Duboroni, and one time an elderly, blind, wild elephant came into the village and started eating the people’s rice harvest. One foolish young man responded to this by attacking the elephant and so the forest police came to arrest him. When they saw me, they wondered what I was doing there, and the following morning a summons came from the local police that I should attend the police station – I was quite fearful because I didn’t know what the police wanted. So off I went in the police jeep. My friends in the village could see that I was fearful, and so one by one, on foot, or on bicycle, they set out for the town. Someone crossed the river to summon another friend from a nearby village, and as I waited at the police station a small crowd of supporters gathered, just to sit and be there and support me. My feelings of fear soon changed as I realised just how deep their feelings of friendship and love for me were. – Stephen Morey



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Readings that deal specifically with the personal aspects of fieldwork and the potential risks: Macaulay, Monica. 2004. Training Linguistics Students for the Realities of Fieldwork. Anthropological Linguistics 46.2: 194-209. (LTU Bundoora Library Call No. Serials 410 A62) Newman, Paul and Martha Ratliff (Eds.). 2001. Linguistic Fieldwork. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (LTU Bundoora Library Call No. 410.72 L755) Howell, Nancy. 1990. Surviving fieldwork: A report of the Advisory Panel on Health and Safety in Fieldwork. Washington: American Anthropological Association. (LTU Bundoora Library Call No. 306.072 H859s)

In addition, there are a number of recent guides to fieldwork that deal mainly with academic aspects, but that also include discussions of personal aspects:

Bowern, Claire. 2008. Linguistic fieldwork: A practical guide. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. (LTU Bundoora Library Call No. 410.72 B786l) Crowley, Terry. 2007. Field Linguistics: A beginner’s guide. (Edited and prepared for publication by Nick Thieberger.) Oxford: Oxford University Press. (--) Duranti, Alessandro. 1997. Linguistic anthropology. New York: Cambridge University Press. (LTU Bundoora Library Call No. 306.44089 D9511) Everett, Daniel L. To appear. Linguistic field work: A student’s guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (--) Samarin, William J. 1967. Field linguistics: a guide to linguistic fieldwork. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. (LTU Bundoora Library Call No. 410.18 S187f) Wilkins, David. 1992. Linguistic research under aboriginal control: a personal account of fieldwork in Central Australia. Australian Journal of Linguistics 12: 171-200.

There are numerous web resources on linguistic fieldwork waiting to be explored. Good starting points are:

http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/lingfieldwork/

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/linguistics/fieldwork/links.html

Documents

FIELDWORK MANUAL - draft fieldwork manual.pdf · Printed on 11/03/2009 Page 4 of 30 §1 Fieldwork The RCLT recognises that there are three major components that need to be considered: