Report by Aidan Coleman (East Asian Languages and Literatures)
The main purpose of this travel, supported by the program, was to participate in talks and workshops on Okinoerabujima and Okinawa Island in order to deepen my knowldge of Ryukyuan lingusitics. In Okinoerabu, Dr. Ohara from UH Hilo and Dr. Iwasaki from Nanzan University presented on indigenous language revitalization and its relation to education. In Okinawa, I met with organizers of the Okinawa Hands-On NPO, which works with language revitalization and education for Uchinaaguchi, one of Okinawa’s indigenous languages. I also met with three professors who work with the Ryukyuan languages, one of whom is currently helping me develop my capstone paper topic.
Besides attending specialized talks and meetings, I was able to visit various sites of cultural and historical significance, such as Wadomari Town Folklore & History Museum in Okinoerabu, as well as the Okinawa Prefectural Museum, Himeyuri Memorial Tower, and Shuri Castle on Okinawa Island. I was able to expand my knowledge of my research field, establish professional connections with people in my area of interest, and make crucial progress on my degree requirements. My goal is to use this experience to fuel further research and contribute to scholarship and the community.