Research Commons
      • Browse 
        • Communities & Collections
        • Titles
        • Authors
        • By Issue Date
        • Subjects
        • Types
        • Series
      • Help 
        • About
        • Collection Policy
        • OA Mandate Guidelines
        • Guidelines FAQ
        • Contact Us
      • My Account 
        • Sign In
        • Register
      View Item 
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Higher Degree Theses
      • View Item
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Higher Degree Theses
      • View Item
      JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

      Writing Lawa: Stimulating indigenous ownership of vernacular literacy through action research

      Holt, Mark Timothy Lloyd
      Thumbnail
      Files
      thesis.pdf
      8.461Mb
      Citation
      Export citation
      Holt, M. T. L. (2014). Writing Lawa: Stimulating indigenous ownership of vernacular literacy through action research (Thesis, Doctor of Education (EdD)). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/8778
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/8778
      Abstract
      The Eastern Lawa people of Northern Thailand have not had a practical or standardised method of writing their own language. This research began in response to an informal request that help be given to the teachers at Bo Luang school to write Lawa language using Thai script.

      The exploratory and informal nature of the project led me to use action research’s cyclical concept of action, followed by feedback, followed by planning for further action. This allowed for adjustments to both research goals and methods in response to the Eastern Lawa community. I was also able to document practical language development issues in the context of an ancient but rapidly changing indigenous Mon-Khmer community in Northern Thailand.

      I began with the traditional linguistic assumption that building a foundation for vernacular literacy would consist of three consecutive phases. A draft orthography would be prepared with the community. Community acceptance of this would allow a working orthography to be used by the teachers of Bo Luang school. The third phase would then be official regional or national recognition of a formal orthography. I also believed that community ownership was the key to all three phases.

      In reality I encountered a constant tension between trying to force the pathway of language development that I had envisaged and coming to terms with the linguistic and social situation which I discovered within the Bo Luang Lawa community. My plans for action research came to be grounded in a critical, reflexive ethnography. Community ownership became the major goal and the raison d’etre for my research instead of just an outcome of good language development practice.

      My initial emphasis on linguistic development has transformed into a desire to base both research goals and orthographic objectives on the history, identity and aspirations of the indigenous people. It is my intention that this thesis will be part of the growing body of work that recognises the limitations of Western empirical research models and the necessity for and practicality of alternative approaches.

      If you don’t know the words, ask your mother; if you don’t know the path, ask your father. (Traditional Lawa saying)
      Date
      2014
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Name
      Doctor of Education (EdD)
      Supervisors
      Franken, Margaret
      Barbour, Julie Renee
      Publisher
      University of Waikato
      Rights
      All items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
      Collections
      • Higher Degree Theses [1714]
      Show full item record  

      Usage

      Downloads, last 12 months
      64
       
       

      Usage Statistics

      For this itemFor all of Research Commons

      The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wānanga o WaikatoFeedback and RequestsCopyright and Legal Statement