A Case Study Applying a Framework of Contemporary Archival Theory to Lexicography Projects for Under-Resourced Languages

Abstract

Archivy’s turn toward principles of inclusiveness and decolonization has been the topic of much recent scholarship (Cook, 2013; Lee, 2016). This ethical paradigm shift has been marked by an acknowledgment of the varied needs and desires of community stakeholders in archiving contexts, and ongoing efforts to explore the ways communities are participating in archiving their cultural heritage. There are parallels between this work and the preservation of endangered languages as one manifestation of cultural heritage although, traditionally, they are most readily observed in the domain of language archiving (Henke & Berez-Kroeker 2016; Wasson et al., 2016). This dissertation research initiates an exploration of community archiving principles that directly apply to lexicography (the creation of dictionaries). After conducting a rigorous scoping review of archival science literature and developing a framework of concepts from said literature that apply to lexicographic work, this research is pursuing a case study of four individual dictionaries for their respective languages (Frederick & Roeschley, 2024). Specifically, the case study aims to identify the extent to which the previously identified concepts of relationality and nontraditional conceptualizations apply to each dictionary project, the extent to which community archiving praxis is being utilized in each project, and the perceptions of each of the lexicographers regarding the applicability of the two aforementioned concepts to the scope of their work. An overarching goal of this research is to argue for enhanced collaboration and communication between two disciplines with similar histories and goals to create ethical and empowering outcomes for heritage communities.