This “crisis” is premature, but I am currently dealing with a quandary regarding potential research ideas.  I have a the opportunity to apply for research/language funding through my department this summer which is great.  However, the language that I will choose to learn is deeply wrapped up with the research I will pursue.   I’m only required to learn one as an Americanist BUT I am not opposed to learning two.

Here is the further conundrum, I also have the opportunity to do research in the archives in lieue of a language.  I feel more comfortable with this choice but many people have told me that (1) its better to get the language out of the way and (2) archives can be daunting when you don’t know what you’re looking for.  My issue is that learning the language I am thinking of can be so specific that if I spend a summer doing that and don’t pursue that further  it would be a waste.  Whereas visiting an archival respository will be beneficial because it is good experience even if I walk away with material that I won’t use.  As one can tell, I am leading toward the archival option.  I want to be 100% sure I am learning a language that I will be using.  If I do go look at archives this summer, I will be mostly be looking at documents in English.

I’m glad I wrote this out… Of course, there is a WHOLE other side to this I am not writing about which mostly pertains to WHAT my dissertation topic will exactly be.