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Dear all, Jan David Hauck (UCLA) and I are organizing a panel for the upcoming AAA meetings in Minneapolis (November 16-20, 2016), about language and ontology in the indigenous Americas, in order to bring some of the recent discussions on the ontological turn to bear on work done in linguistic anthropology. Eduardo Kohn kindly agreed to be our discussant. If you're interested please send your abstract offline to <[log in to unmask]> and < [log in to unmask]>. Abstract: *Language in the Amerindian Imagination* *A particular imagination of language as autonomous medium of representation has played a central role in the constitution of the naturalist ontology (Descola) as it facilitated the scientific and political separation of nature and society (Latour), as well as the establishment of all kinds of smaller and greater divides between speakers of “proper” languages and those of dialects, mixed languages, or otherwise “other” forms of communication (Bauman and Briggs 2003).Ethnographies of the indigenous Americas have provided rich evidence of alternative ontologies, while also documenting a wide range of verbal practices that defy the privileging of the symbolic, representational, denotational, or referential properties of language (and culture). And these ethnographies describe alternative modes of relation between humans and non-humans in which language can be twisted, broken, or transformed through indigenous voices. Bringing various lines of research together, in this panel we want to explore the place of language in Amerindian ontologies. If the notion of language usually invoked in linguistic and anthropological scientific practice is based on a "naturalist" or "modern" understanding of the world, what would a theory of language look like that springs from radically different metaphysical underpinnings? Is language an intersubjective practice, a bodily habit; is it a part of the soul or double? Does language possess a subjectivity or agency of its own? We are looking for contributions that explore these and related issues through the analysis of Amerindian linguistic and semiotic ideologies, mythology, and metapragmatic discourse, ritual practices and verbal art, or everyday language use and interaction among and between species. We are especially interested in issues raised by recent transformations of Amerindian lifeworlds and language practices and language and cultural contact. By situating this panel regionally in indigenous North and South America, we hope to stimulate a conversation that is based on a common ethnographic understanding of this area, but relevant comparative studies from other parts of the world are equally welcome.* ________________ Guilherme Orlandini Heurich PhD (Museu Nacional/UFRJ). [log in to unmask] ************************************************************* * Anthropology-Matters Mailing List * http://www.anthropologymatters.com * * A postgraduate project comprising online journal, * * online discussions, teaching and research resources * * and international contacts directory. * * To join this list or to look at the archived previous * * messages visit: * * http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/Anthropology-Matters.HTML * * If you have ALREADY subscribed: to send a message to all * * those currently subscribed to the list,just send mail to: * * [log in to unmask] * * * * Enjoyed the mailing list? Why not join the new * * CONTACTS SECTION @ www.anthropologymatters.com * * an international directory of anthropology researchers * * To unsubscribe: please log on to jiscmail.ac.uk, and * * go to the 'Subscriber's corner' page. * * ***************************************************************