UNM students showcase language revitalization projects at Indigenous Language Institute Symposium – UNM Newsroom

Report on University of New Mexico Research Presentations at the Indigenous Language Institute Symposium

Student researchers from the University of New Mexico (UNM) presented findings at the Indigenous Language Institute Symposium, themed The Healing Power of Language. The research aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Research Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4: Quality Education & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Projects focused on the documentation and revitalization of Indigenous languages, directly supporting inclusive and equitable education and the empowerment of Indigenous communities.

• Pueblo Hand Talk and Spoken Pueblo Language: Presented by Melanie Kirk-Lente and Kayleigh Russell, this research documents an Indigenous signed language. The project advances SDG 4 by promoting linguistic diversity in educational contexts and supports SDG 10 by affirming the cultural identity and rights of Pueblo communities. Strategies discussed aim to revitalize signed and spoken languages to ensure cultural continuity.
• Bilingual Cognition in Amazonian Languages: Vianne Basulto and Nicholas Underwood presented research on demonstratives in Secoya and Ticuna. This work contributes to SDG 4 by exploring how bilingual cognition is shaped by navigating multiple linguistic systems, providing insights for effective educational strategies in multilingual communities.
  • Nicholas Underwood’s research examined semantic expansion and language change in the Secoya demonstrative system.
  • Vianne Basulto’s work compared how Secoya and Ticuna speakers use demonstratives in relation to spatial conceptualization.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 11: Sustainable Communities

Research presented provides practical resources for community-led initiatives that safeguard cultural heritage and promote well-being, central tenets of SDG 3 and SDG 11.

• Child Language Development for Indigenous Language Nests: A presentation by Akasha Khalsa and Melanie Kirk-Lente addressed common questions from community members regarding early language acquisition. This work directly supports Target 11.4 (protect and safeguard cultural heritage) by empowering language nests, which are critical for intergenerational knowledge transfer. By providing accessible information, the project also contributes to community well-being (SDG 3).

Project and Institutional Support

Collaborative Efforts and Funding

1. The Hand Talk Collaborative: Led by Professor Jill Morford, this initiative is supported by a Community-Based Research Award from UNM’s Center for Regional Studies.
2. Addressee Effects in Demonstrative Systems Across Bilingual Communities: This three-year project is funded by a National Science Foundation grant and is a collaboration between researchers at UNM and the University of Edinburgh.
3. Child Language Development Publication: The research on language nests is summarized from an article in press authored by a nine-member team of students and faculty from UNM’s Departments of Linguistics and Speech and Hearing Sciences.

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article extensively discusses education, particularly in the context of Indigenous communities. The research on “Child Language Development for Indigenous Language Nests” directly addresses early childhood education. The entire initiative of documenting and revitalizing languages is an educational effort aimed at preserving cultural knowledge and ensuring it is passed down to future generations, aligning with the goal of inclusive and equitable quality education.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The focus on Indigenous languages and communities addresses the inequalities faced by these often marginalized groups. By supporting the revitalization of their languages, the initiatives described in the article empower these communities, promote their cultural identity, and contribute to their social inclusion. The article notes that this work supports “community well-being and cultural continuity,” which is fundamental to reducing inequalities.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • This goal includes the protection of cultural heritage. Indigenous languages are a critical part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. The “ongoing documentation of Pueblo Hand Talk” and the research into Amazonian languages like Secoya and Ticuna are direct actions to safeguard this heritage, as outlined in the goal’s targets.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 4.5: Ensure equal access to all levels of education for the vulnerable, including indigenous peoples.

   • The article’s focus on “Indigenous Child Language Research” and the creation of resources like the handout on “Child Language Development for Indigenous Language Nests” are direct efforts to support and improve educational access and outcomes for Indigenous children, ensuring that their linguistic and cultural needs are met within educational settings.

2. Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including…appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

   • The research and revitalization efforts described, such as documenting Pueblo Hand Talk and studying Amazonian languages, inherently promote an appreciation for cultural and linguistic diversity. The symposium’s theme, “The Healing Power of Language,” and the emphasis on “cultural continuity” highlight the contribution of culture to community well-being and sustainable development.

3. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of…ethnicity, origin…or other status.

   • Language is central to identity and social inclusion. The work to revitalize and document Indigenous languages, such as Pueblo Hand Talk, Secoya, and Ticuna, empowers these communities by validating and preserving their unique cultural identities. This fosters greater social inclusion and helps counter the historical marginalization of Indigenous peoples.

4. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

   • The article provides clear examples of efforts to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. The project “ongoing documentation of Pueblo Hand Talk, an Indigenous signed language,” is a direct action to protect and preserve a unique form of cultural expression from being lost.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

1. Development of educational resources in Indigenous languages.

   • The article explicitly mentions that researchers “distributed a handout for community language workers to support nest planning and outreach.” This handout, summarizing findings from an article titled “Child Language Development: Questions and Answers for Indigenous Language Nests,” serves as a tangible indicator of progress in creating educational support materials.

2. Documentation of intangible cultural heritage.

   • The work of Melanie Kirk-Lente and Kayleigh Russell on their poster, “Pueblo Hand Talk and Spoken Pueblo Language,” is described as highlighting the “ongoing documentation of Pueblo Hand Talk.” This documentation effort is a direct measure of progress in safeguarding cultural heritage.

3. Number of research initiatives focused on Indigenous language revitalization.

   • The article details multiple research projects that can be counted as indicators. These include the “Hand Talk Collaborative,” the three-year experimental project on Secoya and Ticuna funded by a National Science Foundation grant, and the research leading to the article “Child Language Development: Questions and Answers for Indigenous Language Nests.”

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.unm.edu