Internal and external calls to immigrant language promotion

This paper explores the research methodology of the documentation and promotion of two immigrant indigenous languages in Eastern North Carolina, by contrasting it to a successful participatory research approach observed in an ongoing project in Nicaragua. When contrasting immigrant and in-situ settings, it becomes apparent that the different priorities of both communities do not allow for the implementation of an identical participatory research approach. To overcome these differences, the research approach needs to be adapted to the needs of the immigrant community, while still maintaining a strong community-centered focus that enables an egalitarian relationship between researcher and members of the speaking community, and that provides services and materials that first and foremost benefit such community.