Laurent Legrain

Laurent Legrain is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Solidarity, Societies, Territories (LISST). He teaches courses in Anthropology of Art (L2), Anthropology of Language Practices (L2), Anthropology of Places and Territory (L3), Field Research (Ethnographic Description or Problematization), and Mongolian Ethnology (M1).

His research focuses on Mongolian society, particularly examining the concept of 'mergen' (skillfulness) as it manifests in archery, divination, and verbal artistry. He investigates how certain individuals become figures of prominence in Mongolian society through their ability to navigate complex social and cosmic relationships. His work explores the intersections of language, music, territory, and political charisma in contemporary Mongolia.

Legrain's publications reveal a consistent focus on sensory anthropology, particularly sound studies and acoustemology, as well as linguistic anthropology examining how language practices shape social reality. His most recent work demonstrates a growing interest in pedagogical approaches to ethnographic fieldwork and the transmission of anthropological knowledge.

He has been instrumental in developing the 'collective fieldwork' program at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès since 2016, which provides graduate students with structured ethnographic training experiences. His research connects Mongolian ethnography with broader theoretical questions in anthropology regarding skill, contingency, and social order.