field linguistics

Field linguistics is the study of languages by linguists directly engaging with speakers in their natural settings. It involves collecting data on how a language is spoken, including vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and usage, often for undocumented or endangered languages. This hands-on approach helps linguists understand language structures, cultural context, and how languages evolve over time. By working directly with communities, field linguistics preserves linguistic diversity and informs language revitalization efforts as well as theoretical understanding of human language.