Recently, there has been a renewed scholarly interest in the study of ethnographic research, particularly the way it applies to the field of communication. Many of the new works readdress some of the historical issues inherent in the field, and often purport to merge the disciplines of history, sociology, anthropology, pure linguistics, and communication studies. Moreover, the new literature seems to take much of its impetus from the 1962 study by Hymes, who posited the notion that when anthropologists researched culture, they focused on observable or pragmatic behavior, rather than allowing a more inclusive approach to language and the bridge to culture. Instead, they argued, it was the job of linguists to study language. Problems arose, however, since linguists tended to focus more on language as an entity itself, instead of looking at the cultural ramifications present in the broader, more holistic base of the society in question. In other words, each discipline was intent on studying only the things it was comfortable describing, and often neglected a broader range (Hymes, 1962).
This paper will deal with the emerging literature in the field of ethnography as a broader tool for social research and a discipline that has the potential to merge several areas of social research by finding areas that address common questions. Initially, the paper will begin by looking at the overall conception of ethnography, and will deal with current issues in the field. It will then progress to the cultural paradigm, and describe ethnography in the context of culture as a determinant, informant, and descriptor. The paper will then turn to an overview of ethnographic research, look at positive and negative contributions, and access the ethical considerations and moral implications of the discipline. Finally, the paper will conclude with a section dealing with the way ethnography can be applied to the field of speech communication.
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