Iowa State to International Linguistics

Carly Sommerlot is an Iowa State alumna with a variety of postgraduate accomplishments. After earning her bachelor’s degree at Iowa State, Sommerlot went on to receive a master’s from the University of Iowa and a PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington. Sommerlot has used her background in linguistics and specialization in language documentation for research in Indonesia, as well as for teaching English to nonnative speakers at Vanderbilt. Sommerlot recalls, “It was a class at Iowa State that originally inspired me to go into language documentation. I believe it was Linguistics 101. Dr. Maximilian Viatori is a cultural anthropology professor and conducts ethnographic research in South America. He came in and talked about doing documentation work, and I thought, I want to do this!” Like many students, Sommerlot chose a major in Linguistics without a complete understanding of what the path she wanted to pursue would entail. But, after taking Linguistics 101, Sommerlot was sure she had made the right choice. Sommerlot recalls other ISU professors, such as “Dr. John Levis and his wife [Greta Muller Levis,] were phenomenal supports for me at Iowa State. Dr. Carol Chapelle helped me immensely as well.” Throughout our conversation, Sommerlot acknowledged that her luck in professors shaped the success of her academic career. For example, she has adopted some of the behaviors and communication techniques she observed as a student.

Iowa State was the the place where Sommerlot’s interest was first sparked in language documentation, an interest that would propel her through graduate school to earn her doctorate. Along the way, a significant networking opportunity was presented to Sommerlot. A friend knew of a family in Indonesia willing to host Sommerlot’s residence. She was then given the chance to research Malayic and Land Dayak languages in Indonesia. Sommerlot states, “Being in Indonesia was such a privilege. I was treated with the utmost respect, and people were so willing to work with me. I found that nonverbal communication and attitude are actually really important.” Sommerlot admitted she wasn’t fully fluent in Indonesian on her first visit. Yet, her enthusiasm and willingness to learn compelled the citizens to treat her with compassion and patience. To this day, Sommerlot is very grateful and even inspired by the people she met. She says, “I have become a much better person—I’m far more patient now. I had to learn to slow down, because the culture operates at a different pace. It’s too hot to meet in the afternoon because there’s no air conditioning, so everyone goes home and takes a nap.” Her work in both Indonesia and Borneo has left a lasting impact on Sommerlot.

While the Malay language is better known than the Land Dayak language, Sommerlot explains her work in both. Stating, “When I worked in Borneo, I worked with languages from two families. One was Malayic, and the other was Land Dayak. Land Dayak languages are exclusively spoken in Borneo. I’ve worked on eight or nine Land Dayak languages total. I ended up writing a paper on the voice characteristics of this language because the previous research has always been historical in nature.” Her other research includes studying “[the] nasal prefix in languages of Indonesia. There’s a prefix that attaches to verbs in the Indonesian language, mainly in Western Indonesia.” Based on the evidence she collected, Sommerlot was able to show that the nasal prefix should be split into two distinct prefixes rather than analyzed as one.

Working abroad has solidified Sommerlot’s stance on international travel. She expresses, “I definitely encourage international travel. I think seeing how other people live and how different cultures exist is so eye-opening. While these cultures differ from ours, there are still many striking similarities.” Moreover, Sommerlot’s work at Vanderbilt with nonnative English speakers has further broadened her definition of diversity. She discusses the importance of asking questions and of acknowledging that the learning process will be awkward. Due to natural performance anxiety, Sommerlot emphasizes fostering community in her classroom. She believes, “Little things are really hard. For example, going to the grocery store. You have to get there, then talk to the cashier, and if you’re not comfortable with the language, that becomes more challenging or anxiety-inducing.” While Sommerlot and her students battle these struggles together, the progression itself is rewarding. Sommerlot says, “Teaching English as a second language is an amazing way to help students achieve small victories every day.” While many of Sommerlot’s career projects were not anticipated, she expresses the necessity of openness. She encourages others with her advice, “You have to look outside the box. Talking to people who have careers in the field you want to pursue is also super beneficial.”

The roots of Sommerlot’s fantastical journey were planted at Iowa State. She is a prime example of what can happen when you pursue your area of interest with an open mind about the opportunities that may await.