Upon reading Chapter Two in particular, I found Murchison’s discussion of internet fieldwork especially interesting in considering the possibilities of deception. How does one account for the potential of catfishing and the role it may play in their work? Perhaps recognizing this in the work is enough, but it certainly presents a new challenge to various Internet-based projects. I did consider doing research on Spanish-based, Latinx Facebook groups. This would provide an interesting field site, but it requires a different set of skills as an ethnographer. For example, one would need to be able to understand Spanish as it written out and used in informal settings (e.g. understanding that x stands for por as an example that has confused me a time or two on WhatsApp!). As Murchison explains, this would be an essential skill to have in order to “carry out effective research.” Additionally, when preforming research online, how can an ethnographer make their presence known as to not breach the privacy rights of those in such a Facebook group? Would an ethnographer need to post about their presence, or would this perhaps change how people then utilized the group?
In reference to finalizing my project idea, I am having a difficult time establishing a research question that is feasible within the scope of this semester. I am really interested in indigenous languages from Latin America and the experience of these speakers in the United States. Recently, I have been looking through data from the 2020 Census, and there seems to be a serious lack of information on the presence of these languages and speakers throughout the country—even though they are rapidly growing in numbers. I was considering exploring the experience of indigenous language speakers in local public schools or, if this proves to be too difficult in terms of finding indigenous language speakers, I would also be fascinated to learn more about the experience of Spanish speakers in English-dominated school settings. What do these students need? Is the school system able to respond to the cultural and social needs of its linguistically diverse students? It would be fascinating to sit in on ESL classes at some local schools and interview some of these ESL teachers (as I am not sure I would be able to talk with the students themselves if they are under 18 without parental consent). If anyone has any sort of thoughts to further this idea, please do not hesitate to share. Thank you!