Anthony K. Webster

Anthony K. Webster is a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin in the College of Liberal Arts. His work bridges linguistic anthropology and ethnopoetics, with a focus on Navajo poetry, language ideologies, and the intersections of sound, memory, and cultural inequality.

• Research Interests: Linguistic anthropology, Navajo English, translation, iconicity, linguistic relativity, acoustemology, graphic pluralism, and public signage on the Navajo Nation.
• Key Themes: Ethnopoetics, verbal art, language contact, and the role of sound in shaping cultural and cognitive frameworks.

Webster's recent publications explore dialogical ethnopoetics, Navajo place-names, and the ethical dimensions of translating Indigenous poetry. He co-edited special issues on Joel Sherzer's legacy and the role of ideophones in linguistic analysis.

Scientific Recognition: In 2022, his co-edited volume The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature received the American Book Award. He also serves as Editor for Anthropological Linguistics.

• Advising & Collaborations: Has collaborated with Navajo poets like Rex Lee Jim and scholars such as Leighton C. Peterson, Erin Debenport, and Patience Epps on language documentation and verbal art studies.
• Teaching: Courses include Native American Verbal Art, Speech Play, Amer Indian Languages, and Language/Place/Imagination.