Researcher, Oxford Dictionary of African American English

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Oxford Dictionary of African American English is a landmark scholarly initiative documenting the lexicon of African American English (AAE) in a dictionary based on historical principles. The ODAAE will be compiled and edited by a team of researchers, lexicographers, and editors sponsored and led by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. The joint team will apply the depth and rigor of the OED’s historical methodology specifically to the study of African American English (AAE) in order to create a dictionary to further illuminate the history, meaning, and significance of this body of language.

As an ODAAE researcher, you are responsible for carrying out a variety of pre-editorial and research tasks to support the revision and drafting of ODAAE entries in collaboration with ODAAE editors, including researching previous lexicographical work relating to AAE, searching and analyzing corpora of digital and digitized texts, and recording quotation evidence to illustrate and elucidate the history and development of AAE words and senses. This is a term position of six months with a possible six-month renewal. Weekly schedule ranges from 14-25 hours. $25 per hour.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES/KEY RESULT AREAS

· Search electronic databases, dictionaries, and other sources to find quotation evidence which elucidates and illustrates the history and development of words and senses in African American English usage; key quotations accurately and in accordance with ODAAE’s bibliographic conventions into the ODAAE database in preparation for the work of editors, at a rate allowing them to begin their work on schedule.

· Investigate and record other information discovered in the course of researching an ODAAE entry which pertains to sense disambiguation, usage over time, or new senses or lemmas.

· Search the OED for existing entries and senses of African American origin and/or usage for potential inclusion in ODAAE.

· Research existing dictionaries and other lexicographical works relating to African American English, to identify words and senses for potential inclusion in ODAAE and to ensure relevant scholarship contained in those works is reflected in ODAAE entries.

· As required: carry out pre-editorial tasks, such as creating and assessing word candidates to be added as new entries or senses.

· Respond to research commissions launched by editors during the drafting process; use editorial judgment to build and shape quotation paragraphs for new items, and (where required) supply basic definitions.

· Take editorial and other decisions appropriate to this role, in line with ODAAE’s mission.

· Collaborate with ODAAE, Harvard, and Oxford colleagues as required, and contribute to building a collaborative, experimental, and inclusive culture among ODAAE staff and stakeholders.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

· Experience using various resources to investigate or research a topic

· Good knowledge of African American English, including its linguistic features (lexis, syntax, grammar, pronunciation, etc.), history, and sociolinguistics

· Good knowledge of African American literature and culture

· Good knowledge of Standard American English, including syntax, grammar, etc.

· (Optional) Academic or practical knowledge of the history and theory of variation in English

· (Optional) Knowledge of other American varieties of English, especially those spoken in the US South

· (Optional) Knowledge of languages that have influenced the development of African American English (e.g., Gullah, African and Caribbean languages, including pidgins and creoles)

KEY INTERFACES

Internal:

· Supervisor: weekly, to discuss and review work and individual progress

· Other ODAAE editors: regularly, in editorial partnerships and for informal consultation

· Staff of OED, Oxford Languages, and other OUP; staff of Hutchins Center, staff of Harvard University

TO APPLY

Harvard Students: Apply for this position through the Student Employment Office

Non-Harvard Researchers: Email your Cover Letter and CV to sjniven@fas.harvard.edu & jennifer.heinmiller@oup.com