The path of decolonization for linguistics: A qualitative analysis of insights from indigenous scholars

Abstract

This dissertation engages in a practice of “disciplinary reflexivity,” critically examining the epistemological foundations of Linguistics and their entanglement with colonial legacies which are embedded in academic research. Using Relationality and Reflexive Thematic Analysis, it presents a qualitative study based on interviews with seven Indigenous scholars who have either participated in Linguistics programs or collaborated with linguists in the context of Indigenous Language Reclamation (ILR) from Turtle Island and Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina. The study explores the epistemological tensions that emerge from these interactions and identifies core conflicts rooted in how the field conceptualizes language. A central critique voiced by participants is the treatment of language as an isolated object of study, which underpins a range of problematic practices: extractive data-centric approaches, lack of holistic perspective, contested ownership and intellectual property claims, failure to recognize Indigenous expertise, harmful academic rhetoric, and the dehumanization of Indigenous speech communities. These issues collectively support a disciplinary stance that often marginalizes ILR as a legitimate research domain within Linguistics, perpetuating inequitable and damaging dynamics between Indigenous and non-Indigenous linguists and communities. In response, this dissertation calls for a reorientation of Linguistics toward relational, reflexive, and responsibility-centered approaches. It concludes with actionable recommendations for reshaping the field to better support inclusive, respectful relationships.