Research

Kanak languages

My PhD thesis project focuses on the description and documentation of Jao, an Oceanic language spoken by around 1000 people in the north of Kanaky-New Caledonia. I work primarily in a village called Wevia or Le Weda, and known in French as Ouayaguette. I have spent 5 months on site over the course of three trips. 

Toponymy (place names)

A major part of my research in Wevia focuses on the collection of toponyms (place names). The current state of the Jao toponym map can be seen below. 

Rammaytush Language Revitalization

I have been leading weekly Rammaytush language lessons in collaboration with Dmetri Hayes/Nimkiins MikZhaabi (https://dmetri.info/). This is part of a broader cultural revitalization and reclamation project led by Muchiate Te' Indigenous Land Trust (https://muchiateilt.org/). 

Flores languages

For my MA thesis, I worked with speakers of Lio in the vicinity of Ende, Flores (eastern Indonesia).