Andrew McNair

Andrew McNair is a doctoral student in the Department of Linguistics with a focus on Indigenous language documentation and revitalization. He is an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and learner of Chikashshanompa', the Chickasaw language. He began his studies at the University of Arizona in the Native American Languages and Linguistics (NAMA) Master of Arts program in 2023. Originally from the Chickasaw Nation in south-central Oklahoma, he also grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. His research interests include the application of machine learning tools to language documentation and revitalization, the discourse functions of switch-reference marking in Chickasaw, and documenting traditional Chickasaw stories, oral narratives, and archival materials. The central purpose of his work is to aid the ongoing revitalization of Chikashshanompa' and Chickasaw culture. His hobbies include beadwork, textile weaving, language learning, hiking, and exploring coffee shops and used bookstores.