Stephanie Fielding

Stephanie Fielding
Other names Morning Fire; Stephanie "Morning Fire" Mugford Fielding
Alma mater B.A., linguistics and anthropology, University of Connecticut, Master of Science in linguistics, MIT
Occupation Linguist, teacher, writer, editor, graphic artist and radio announcer
Known for Work in resurrecting the Mohegan language
Board member of Norwich Community Development Corp.,[1][2] Endangered Language Fund [3]
Religion Bahá'í Faith [4]
Relatives Great-great-great-aunt, Fidelia Fielding

Stephanie "Morning Fire" Fielding is known for her work in linguistics, especially for her work in resurrecting the Mohegan language.[5]

Biography and career

A member of the Tribal Council of Elders, she lives on the Mohegan reservation in southeastern Connecticut, in Uncasville.[3] Fielding holds a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and anthropology from the University of Connecticut, as well as a Master of Science in linguistics from MIT.[6] She often translates English into Mohegan for speakers at Mohegan traditional ceremonies.[7] She was the first student to graduate from a two-year Masters program at MIT "for members of indigenous communities whose languages are dead or dying."[8] Her Master's thesis, The Phonology of Mohegan-Pequot,[9] includes diary excerpts written in Mohegan from her relative Fidelia Fielding, the last fluent speaker of the Mohegan language.[10] "Most of Fielding's work at M.I.T. has focused on creating a kind of linguistic algorithm that will permit her to take many of the accepted proto-Algonquian words and generate an authentic Mohegan vocabulary."[11] In 2006, Stephanie Fielding published A Modern Mohegan Dictionary.[12] She also created the online Mohegan Language Project,[13] a central part of her efforts to keep her ancestral language alive. Of this project, Fielding states that “the goal is fluency,” and offers links to a Mohegan-English dictionary, phrase book, pronunciation guide, exercises, and an audio option.[14]

She has worked "as a teacher, writer, editor, graphic artist and radio announcer. She has also served on the board of directors of educational institutions, media outlets, non-profit organizations, and religious organizations."[6]

Quote

“In order for a language to survive and resurrect,” she said, “it needs people talking it, and for people to talk it, there has to be a society that works on it.”[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Norwich Magazine becomes reality". The Bulletin. Norwich, CT. 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Norwich Community Development Corporation, Norwich, Connecticut. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  3. 1 2 "Endangered Language Fund Board of Directors". Endangered Language Fund. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  4. ↑ Dayton, Andy (2009-10-10). "Mohegan and "Auxiliary Language"" (On Being with Christa Tippett, public radio project). On Being Blog. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  5. ↑ Zobel, Melissa. "Mohegan Language, dormant for 100 years, is now restored." (PDF). Ni Ya Yo. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Government - The Mohegan Tribal Council of Elders". The Mohegan Tribe. 2009. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  7. ↑ Official Webpage of Mohegan Tribe. "Pressroom". The Mohegan Tribe. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  8. ↑ Dunn, Katherine (2005-07-01). "Saving Voices: Indigenous Language Initiative helps revive ailing language". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  9. ↑ Fielding, Stephanie (2005). The Phonology of Mohegan-Pequot. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT.
  10. ↑ Villacorta, Patti. "Mohegans Revive Heritage Through Language". Canku Ota. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Hitt, Jack (2005-08-21). "The Newest Indians". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  12. ↑ Fielding, Stephanie (2006). A Modern Mohegan Dictionary. Uncasville, CT: Mohegan Tribe.
  13. ↑ Fielding, Stephanie. "Mohegan Language Project". Mohegan Tribe. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Fielding, Stephanie (October 2007). "The Mohegan Language Project: Mounting the Web" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  15. ↑ Cohen, Patricia (2010-04-05). "Indian Tribes Go in Search of Their Lost Languages - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
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