Beyond language archives: proposing the archival community informatics framework as an interdisciplinary link to revitalization lexicography

Abstract

Introduction. Lexicography, or the practice of compiling dictionaries, has profound impacts on how information, culture, and identity are understood and communicated. The emergence of revitalization lexicography serves as an example of community informatics practices in which societal implications of dictionary building are investigated and refined by and for minority language communities to reverse epistemic and cultural erasure. Method. To advance engagement of information and archival sciences with revitalization lexicography, this conceptual paper proposes the archival community informatics framework. The framework is then mapped to current revitalization lexicography projects as an entry point to understanding the information practices of communities engaging in revitalization efforts. Results. Mapping the framework to existing initiatives reveals commonalities between archival and lexicographical community informatics, as well as areas for methodological support from the information science and archives fields to aid revitalization lexicographers in the cultural heritage preservation functions of minority language dictionaries. Analysis. This paper argues for further information science analysis of dictionaries—with a conceptualization of dictionaries as archival repositories— housing collections of word definitions, cultural values, traditions, and information practices. The authors posit that through interdisciplinary engagement, the information needs of minority language community members and revitalization lexicographers can be supported.