Winter Research Program - 2018 Projects
Available Projects
- Places of Memory: Narrative and Trauma Symposium - Dr Amy Hubbell
- Spanish language education in the Australian context - Dr Adriana Diaz
- Digitising and annotating endangered language heritage materials: Ken Hale’s Marra collection - Dr Greg Dickson
Places of Memory: Narrative and Trauma Symposium
Project duration: 4 weeks (25 June - 20 July 2018)
Description:
A two-day workshop on ‘Places of Memory: Narrative and Trauma’ will be held by the School of Languages and Cultures on 16-17 July 2018. The workshop will explore connections between texts, testimonies and art, and the physical space where trauma was experienced or commemorated. The workshop will explore three main themes: memorialisation; creative responses to trauma; and ruins and forgetting.
The participants will provide research assistance to the project organisers, assist with the preparation and running of the workshop, and they will be asked to prepare a detailed report following the workshop.
Expected outcomes and deliverables:
Scholars will gain experience in research assistance in the field of memory, narrative and trauma, through the preparation of secondary research findings. They will have the opportunity to take part in an academic workshop and assist in the preparation and running of the workshop. Scholars may also deliver a short oral presentation at the workshop, and they will work closely with researchers from the School of Languages and Cultures. Students will be asked to submit a post-workshop report at the end of the project.
Suitable for:
This project is open to any student in their 2nd year (or above) of their undergraduate studies. Current Honours students are also welcome to apply. Students who have excellent oral and written communication skills in English and experience in organising events would enjoy this project. Students who are undertaking a language major and who have an interest in undertaking Honours or a higher research degree in the future are encouraged to apply.
Further info:
Contact Dr Amy Hubbell a.hubbell@uq.edu.au for more information.
Spanish language education in the Australian context
Project duration: 4 weeks (25 June - 20 July 2018)
Description:
This small-scale project aims to examine Spanish language education trends in the Australian context across sectors, particularly focussing on early Spanish language learning vis-à-vis, the current curriculum reform at national level, and its emphasis on intercultural understanding. This project is set against a background of growing numbers of migrants from Spanish-speaking countries and the absence of research on Spanish language programs in compulsory education.
Expected outcomes and deliverables:
Scholars will gain skills in relation to review of relevant literature (both academic and grey literature, e.g. government reports, national statistics, policy statements, etc.) and preparing annotated bibliographies. Students will assist in the development and administration of data collection instruments (e.g. surveys) as well as the collation and analysis of collected data.
Suitable for:
This project is open to applications from 3rd year students with a background in education and/or (applied) linguistics. Intermediate level of proficiency in Spanish language is required.
Further info:
Contact Dr Adriana Diaz a.diaz@uq.edu.au for more information.
Digitising and annotating endangered language heritage materials: Ken Hale’s Marra collection
Project duration: 2 weeks (9 - 20 July 2018)
Description:
Archived language data of endangered languages is of critical importance to language communities and research communities but usually remains inaccessible. This project centres on Ken Hale’s 60 year old handwritten field notes and audio recordings of the endangered Marra language (non-Pama-Nyungan/Marran language family, NT/Gulf of Carpentaria).
Scholars will work at annotating and updating this invaluable heritage collection into formats that will be immediately accessible. This will be of direct benefit to Marra people who want access to this collection and to linguists who want to investigate this under-researched language of one of the Australia’s smallest language families.
Expected outcomes and deliverables:
This project aims to digitise 750 pages of fieldnotes of the Marra language, created by Ken Hale in 1960, as well as work with audio recordings of the data to create accessible heritage language materials. Through the project, scholars will become familiar with one of Australia’s critically endangered Indigenous languages from one of the continent’s smallest language families. Scholars will learn techniques in working with archival materials and how to apply them to research contexts, and develop an understanding of how such materials can benefit descendants of the speech community. At the conclusion of the project, it is proposed that scholars will share their work with colleagues in the linguistics via a seminar presentation.
Suitable for:
This project will suit 2nd and 3rd year linguistics students, particularly those who have an interest in Australian Aboriginal languages.
Further info:
Contact Dr Greg Dickson g.dickson1@uq.edu.au for more information.