From Linqua Franca to Local Language Or Reflection on the Importance of Knowledge of a Local Language in the Anthropological Research
Abstract
The author reflects on his research activities in the Tajik Pamir in terms of his own language skills. Ongoing anthropological research from 2006 is focused on self-presentation of group identities of Tajik Pamirs.
The author conducted research repeatedly four times over the years (2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014). In most cases researcher used mainly Russian that is used as Linqua franca in post-Soviet Central Asia.
The author reflects on his intensive studies of Shugni language during the last research period which seemed to open up new ways. Therefore, the discussed topic of this paper reflects author's current work in the context of his language skills.
The author draws attention to his own perception of the advantages and disadvantages of Linqua franca, furthermore, he reflects on the importance of learning the local language as a tool for anthropological research. The researcher's status in the field is determined by his language skills.
The paper therefore aims not only at the level of content, in terms of collected ethnographic data, but also at the plane of status, regarding researcher's positionality towards his informants. The aim of the author is to self-reflexively contemplate on how knowledge of the language affects his position in the field.