Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Speak locally – reach globally: Globalization processes - Language, Literature and Media  (Speak locally – reach globally)

Outline
The local non-state-bearing languages found in the Arctic are used in various degrees, but are all crucial for the ethnic identity as used in communication, media, literature, etc. The question of general sustainable development in the local regions of the Arctic includes also the question of sustainable development of intellectual culture and language competence. The mixing of culture - 'glocalization' takes place even at the utmost remote settings. But the question is, how exactly it takes place, how much impact local cultural policy, local media policy and language policy have on the development? And who are the decision-makers formally as well as informally?Arctic research is important in an international perspective as it may contribute to mainstream research revealing quite different results as to ideas of identity, culture, mobility, world view etc.The overall project includes four components:1: Language Policy and Language Planning.Language Status versus Language Policy and the attitudes of the populations towards this question. Specifically: How are the language policy and language planning of the center viewed from outside the center (e.g. Upernavik – Nuuk). Research is to take place in the Inuit regions of Alaska, Canada and Greenland, and in the Sami regions.2: Computer Assisted LinguisticsA cooperative research in further development of databases on Inuit languages considering custom-made database models. A circumpolar project will give input to the already ongoing projects like the one in Nuuk managed by Oqaasileriffik, while it will also build up a network for future collaboration.3: The development of literature from Oral Tradition to rap.Parallel research projects will consider the differences found between the various areas of the Arctic. Why has the development been so differing and how does glocalization in literary matters take place in the local regions? How is the status of critical and analytical approach to literature? How is innovation versus the beloved tradition in a postcolonial setting.4: The general view among researchers is that globalisation has created homogenisation and ‘McDonaldization’ especially among young people. Preliminary research, however, has indicated that this is too simple an explanation. Therefore, Ilisimatusarfik intend to co-operate with researchers from Canada, Alaska and the Sami regions to make joint qualitative surveys in order to be able to compare these arctic young people’s ‘global-less-ness’.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The overall project and its component project will all be trans-national.- By gathering new data and by the trans-institutional and trans-national networking it will bring new data and new knowledge – and new approaches.- Since the perspective is how things are seen or done locally, the outreach will follow immediately during the research, but will of course also have to be brought back to the communities later on when data have been analyzed.- According to the overall principles our list of 6 names includes a young researcher. When Ilisimatusarfik and Oqaasileriffik, being Greenlandic and located in the Arctic, take the lead it means direct contact to Greenland.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Besides extensive involvement from Greenland: Ilisimatusarfik / University of Greenland and Oqaasileriffik / Greenland Language Secretariat, involvement of teams from e.g.: USA: University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Ilisarvik College, Barrow, Alaska. Canada: McGill, Montreal; Memorial University of New Foundland. Norway: University of Tromsø; Samiska Högskola. Denmark: University of Copenhagen.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
For the components involving field work it will take place in Greenland and in parallel projects in the various other parts of the circumpolar Arctic regions.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: TBC            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
According to a letter from January 14, 2005, The Danish National Committee (including participants from Greenland) expresses that it has no mandate to endorse individual proposals. This proposal is put forward on their initiative.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
YES
Some of the components in the overall project will be new approaches, some will be an extension of already ongoing research, but brought together on a trans-national scale.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Each of the four component projects will be organised by networking, - and these network structures will planned during spring 2005. For the deadline of June, each of the four component projects will have to establish network and set up a full proposal.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Each component project will be able to be involved in the Arctic PhD-networks like IPSSAS.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
A website

How is it proposed to fund the project?
national funding

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This is a first announcement of IPY projects on Language, Literature and Media, initiated from the Greenland-Denmark IPY Committee. However, each of the fields mentioned in this heading is important in itself. The vision for the IPY will be both to collaborate on this overall level, but also to set up the research projects within the three research fields as is indicated by splitting up in four components – and make networks covering the Arctic within each of these components.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ass Prof Karen Langgård
Ilisimatusarfik / University of Greenland
Box 279
DK-3900 Nuuk
Greenland

Tel: + 299 32 45 66
Mobile:
Fax: + 299 32 47 11
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information