A practical guide to field linguistics. It deals in particular with the problems arising from the documentation of endangered languages. Deploying a mixture of methodology and practical advice, it shows how to record, analyse, and describe a language in the field. It offers guidance on issues ranging from ethics to everyday diplomacy, and more.

This book is a comprehensive, practical guide to field linguistics. It deals in particular with the problems arising from the documentation of endangered languages. Terry Crowley shows how to prepare for that task, and how to record, analyse, and describe languages in the field. Mixing formal instruction and anecdote, the author shares his rich experience with the new generation of linguistic fieldworkers.