Field research

Field research is an empirical method used to collect and analyse natural language data directly in the speech community. It is particularly important for the documentation of under-researched or endangered languages and involves the systematic recording of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. In addition to the creation of audio and video recordings, linguistic data is transcribed and translated in the field in co-operation with the speakers. An important component of field research is elicitation, which collects specific language data.

Field research not only provides essential primary data for linguistic theory building, but also contributes to language documentation, revitalisation and interdisciplinary research in many scientific fields (anthropology, biology, medicine, cognitive science, musicology, etc.).