Dan Suslak, associate professor of anthropology at IU, and Ben Levine, documentary filmmaker and director of the nonprofit organization Speaking Place, are co-principal investigators for the project, according to IU.
The project, which will last two years, received a $253,393 grant as part of the Documenting Endangered Languages program, which gave 27 grants totaling $4 million to support digital documentation of more than 40 languages, according to the University.
The project will use a technique designed to create discussions centered on the community’s culture and language through filming and encouraging the people to recall events and share ideas.
The technique is known as facilitated-feedback filming.
Ayöök is part of the Mixe-Zoquean language family and is thought to have influence from both Maya and Aztec civilizations as well as a possible connection to Olmec civilization, according to the University.
The project aims to create an accessible high-quality archive of videos that will serve as a tool for Ayöök researchers who want to study the culture.
The use of Ayöök has declined as Totontepec, Mexico, the language’s primary location, has become less isolated, according to the University.
This revitalization project will build on research that both Suslak and Levine conducted in the area previously.
Anna Hyzy
