An informant or consultant in

linguistics Linguistics is the science, scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure ...

is a

native speaker Native Speaker may refer to: * ''Native Speaker'' (novel), a 1995 novel by Chang-Rae Lee * ''Native Speaker'' (album), a 2011 album by Canadian band Braids * Native speaker, a person using their first language or mother tongue {{disambigua ...

or member of a community who acts as a linguistic reference for a language or speech community being studied. The informant's role is that of a senior interpreter, who demonstrates native

pronunciation Pronunciation is the way in which a word or a language is spoken. This may refer to generally agreed-upon sequences of sounds used in speaking a given word or language in a specific dialect ("correct pronunciation") or simply the way a particular ...

, provides grammaticality judgments regarding linguistic

well-formedness __NOTOC__ Well-formedness is the quality of a clause, word, or other linguistic element that conforms to the grammar of the language of which it is a part. Well-formed words or phrases are grammatical, meaning they obey all relevant rules of gramma ...

, and may also explain cultural references and other important contextual information to researchers from other cultures studying the language. Linguistic informants, especially those who frequently work with linguists, may play a greater than usual role in the researcher's work, and other titles such as consultant or coauthor may be used to acknowledge and accurately reflect that contribution.

Ethics concerns

In any research situation, there is "an unequal relationship between investigator and informants" – if that inequality already existed before the research, it tends to amplify it. (This power differential is generally true despite clear examples of shifting power dynamics between researcher and informant, which are important to also consider.) This inequality has led to questions of

ethics Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concer ...

and the responsibility of linguists and other researchers to the populations that they study. Standard contributions to this discussion stressed the importance of not engaging in unethical behaviors, such as "coercing subjects to participate or neglecting to get informed consent from them; exploiting or abusing them in the course of research; violating their privacy or breaching confidentiality."Cameron, p. 82 These standard requirements were framed in the idea of "do no harm." However, these considerations are now being increasingly viewed as inadequate, since researchers "often feel a more positive desire to help heir informants" This advocacy can take many forms, but is characterized by its impulse to somehow give back to the community that the researcher is studying. This can be taken a step further when linguists give the communities access to their findings or data, so that the communities can use it to advocate for themselves, which is characterized as "

empowerment Empowerment is the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities. This enables them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority. It is the process of becoming strong ...

" research (in contrast to "ethical" or "advocacy" research). It can also be valuable to use "'feedback' techniques," wherein the researcher maintains communication with the informants throughout the process to ensure that they consent to the ways they are being represented in the final presentation of results.

Ben Rampton Michael Benjamin Helter Rampton (born 31 May 1953) is a British linguist. Career Rampton completed a bachelor's degree at the University of York in 1976, and obtained a doctorate at the University of London in 1987. He was elected a fellow of the ...

used 'feedback' techniques in his study of Asian schoolboys, and Norma Mendoza-Denton also did in her work with Californian cholas' views on makeup. These questions of advocacy also have larger implications, namely in a critique of the positivist methods generally used for research in the social sciences.Cameron, pp. 81–94

References

Translation Linguists {{translation-stub