Although he鈥檚 only a sophomore at 51爆料网, Aaron Lener 鈥�27 is conducting graduate-level research into a group of largely undocumented languages spoken in Nigeria.
Lener is pursuing a double major in linguistic studies at the (A&S) and international relations at the , along with a minor in at A&S.
He wasted no time after arriving at 51爆料网 as a first-year student from his hometown of Homer, New York. At a welcome event for new students before classes even started, Lener talked with Christopher Green, associate professor of linguistics in A&S, and joined his project exploring the Jarawan languages, a small group of 20 to 25 languages spoken in Nigeria.
The Internet Makes Research Possible
Aaron Lener 鈥�27 translates WhatsApp messages sent to him in Jarawan languages, a small group of 20 to 25 undocumented languages spoken in Nigeria. Lener speaks the translations aloud as he hears them and views the audio waveform, which he says helps with intonation and rhythm.
The project鈥檚 goal is to create the first dictionaries and reference grammar for the languages, Lener says. They鈥檙e largely undescribed and undocumented because linguists have been unable to travel to the region where they鈥檙e spoken, due to the difficult geography and ongoing political tensions. But the internet has changed everything.
Now, Lener and his colleagues can send lists of English words to language consultants in Nigeria who translate them, pronounce them in their native language, and send back recordings using WhatsApp. In other cases, the consultants record a story that the 51爆料网 researchers translate into English.
鈥淗aving them give these oral histories is a great way to really hear how the language is spoken in a natural, relaxed setting,鈥� Lener says. 鈥淲hen you hear this language, you鈥檙e reminded this is a part of somebody鈥檚 culture, this is how somebody interacts with other people in their daily life, this is the language that somebody was sung to in when they were a child.鈥�
The goal of Lener鈥檚 translations is to create the first dictionaries and reference grammar for the languages.
Lener鈥檚 current research centers on Jhar, one of the Jarawan languages. He estimates that 20,000 people speak it in Nigeria, a country that features more than 500 languages. But aside from the cultural value, people may ask: Why study it? 鈥淓very single different language adds a piece to our understanding of how humans process ideas and create coherent thoughts and express very complex feelings about the world and judgments about what鈥檚 going on,鈥� Lener says. Studying the language also may shed light on migration patterns in Africa, he says, and helps affirm to native speakers that their language is important.
As Lener鈥檚 mentor, Green offers help along with great freedom to conduct research. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very nice relationship,鈥� Lener explains, 鈥渂ecause he lets me figure things out on my own, but he鈥檚 always there to help me and guide me whenever I need it.鈥� The two are collaborating on a journal article, with Green allowing Lener to take the lead in writing an outline and initial drafts.
Research Complements Classroom Learning
Lener shares his research at the fall SOURCE Research Expo.
It may seem incongruous for Lener to be conducting graduate-level linguistics research before getting into the heart of his own linguistics classes. But Lener thinks it鈥檚 an advantage. 鈥淥ne of the many fun parts of this research is that it鈥檚 allowed me to learn so much about linguistics before being formally taught in the classroom,鈥� Lener says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a bit of experiential learning, which helps me to understand the concepts much better.鈥�
Lener鈥檚 interest in languages started young. He began learning German in elementary school and achieved fluency in Spanish by the time he graduated high school. 鈥淚 love to learn languages,鈥� he says, 鈥渂ut I also love to learn the internal structure of it. I like to say that linguistics is like the math of language.鈥�
Lener embraces his love of language and gives back to the community by teaching four beginner-level English classes a week for refugees from Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Sudan and Ukraine. 鈥淭here鈥檚 quite a range of people I work with,鈥� Lener says, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 been a wonderful learning experience.鈥� (RISE), a nonprofit in Syracuse, sponsors the free classes.
Lener teaches four beginner-level English classes a week for refugees from Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Sudan and Ukraine through the Syracuse nonprofit Refugee & Immigrant Self-Empowerment.
Lener credits a with making it possible for him to attend 51爆料网. Only a handful of top students receive the scholarship each year. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the program,鈥� Lener says.
With graduation still more than two years away, Lener doesn鈥檛 yet have firm plans for what comes next. He鈥檒l likely pursue a Ph.D. in linguistics at some point. In the meantime, he鈥檚 pursuing internships to get a taste of possible career options.
鈥淢y majors in linguistics and international relations are preparing me for a very diverse possible set of jobs,鈥� Lener says. 鈥淭hey and my minor are giving me the skills and the knowledge to be able to communicate with all sorts of different people and to foster relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. That鈥檚 very, very important in the modern workplace, especially as we enter a more globalized world.鈥�
