The two ethnographies that will be compared are Wisdom Sits in Places by Keith H. Basso and Language, Discourse and Power in African American Culture. Both contain eye-opening content of varying perspectives and information regarding communities that are right in front of our noses, and are successful at providing insight and conveying meaningful messages that have the capacity to change the manner in which readers see their own respective societies.
There were several similarities that can be found when comparing some of the basic aspects of the two ethnographers and their studies. Both conducted their research in the United States; however, Basso remained in Cibecue, Arizona, throughout his period of research from 1979 to the mid 1980s, …show more content…
Basso’s ethnography focuses heavily on sense of place in the Apache community. He discusses place-names and its role in their culture; while names of locations are used for convenience to most people, the Western Apache have a unique relationship with their landscape. His first chapter is an introduction to this concept; the second and third provide a deeper look into the significance of certain locations and the stories they tell, such as the effect that the mere mention of a place-name can have on a person; the fourth and final chapter ties everything together by explaining its role in the Apache’s take on intelligence. Morgan’s topic was a very large one pertaining to African-American English, and each chapter of her book focused on various topics relating to it. These include segments on youth culture and hip hop, AAE language norms, speech patterns of African-American woman, and education and its effect on AAE and AAE ideology. Much of her findings tie back to language ideology and the long history of oppression towards African-Americans. She discusses how these concepts had an influence over current language norms, and how certain speech styles are channels through which African-Americans are able to convey their frustration. She even reveals that these ideologies have caused rifts in their own community, between those who feel shame do not want society to associate them with the …show more content…
Both of the ethnographers were passionate and fully engaged in their respective topics, and this was evident through their written works. Basso immersed himself into the Apache culture for several years, committing himself to learning the language, understanding their customs and norms, and attempting to make readers appreciate their stories and lessons, and show his readers the beauty in their interactions with each other through their landscape compared to the more dismissive attitude towards locations and surroundings that belongs to the much of the society that resides outside of Cibecue. Wisdom Sits in Places is especially valuable in these times because of current events involving Native American tribes, such as the Keystone pipeline, and the lack of attention and respect these people receive despite being victims of oppression. The highlight of this compilation of essays is not the provision of random and tasteless facts, but the captivating storytelling that contains lessons that are capable of resonating and bringing together any group of people, whether they are of the Apache tribe or not. Morgan clearly spent a significant portion of her years on this study as well. She traveled all around the nation in order to gain various perspectives and note regional differences within the community, and she successfully engrains into her audience her message of solidarity and love for the members and
There were several similarities that can be found when comparing some of the basic aspects of the two ethnographers and their studies. Both conducted their research in the United States; however, Basso remained in Cibecue, Arizona, throughout his period of research from 1979 to the mid 1980s, …show more content…
Basso’s ethnography focuses heavily on sense of place in the Apache community. He discusses place-names and its role in their culture; while names of locations are used for convenience to most people, the Western Apache have a unique relationship with their landscape. His first chapter is an introduction to this concept; the second and third provide a deeper look into the significance of certain locations and the stories they tell, such as the effect that the mere mention of a place-name can have on a person; the fourth and final chapter ties everything together by explaining its role in the Apache’s take on intelligence. Morgan’s topic was a very large one pertaining to African-American English, and each chapter of her book focused on various topics relating to it. These include segments on youth culture and hip hop, AAE language norms, speech patterns of African-American woman, and education and its effect on AAE and AAE ideology. Much of her findings tie back to language ideology and the long history of oppression towards African-Americans. She discusses how these concepts had an influence over current language norms, and how certain speech styles are channels through which African-Americans are able to convey their frustration. She even reveals that these ideologies have caused rifts in their own community, between those who feel shame do not want society to associate them with the …show more content…
Both of the ethnographers were passionate and fully engaged in their respective topics, and this was evident through their written works. Basso immersed himself into the Apache culture for several years, committing himself to learning the language, understanding their customs and norms, and attempting to make readers appreciate their stories and lessons, and show his readers the beauty in their interactions with each other through their landscape compared to the more dismissive attitude towards locations and surroundings that belongs to the much of the society that resides outside of Cibecue. Wisdom Sits in Places is especially valuable in these times because of current events involving Native American tribes, such as the Keystone pipeline, and the lack of attention and respect these people receive despite being victims of oppression. The highlight of this compilation of essays is not the provision of random and tasteless facts, but the captivating storytelling that contains lessons that are capable of resonating and bringing together any group of people, whether they are of the Apache tribe or not. Morgan clearly spent a significant portion of her years on this study as well. She traveled all around the nation in order to gain various perspectives and note regional differences within the community, and she successfully engrains into her audience her message of solidarity and love for the members and