User:AlexisMichaud

I don't usually write on Wikipedia on topics of which I don't have a good command, but I should make an exception and offer some notes about myself on this user page.

I'm a linguist working at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). I do some editing of pages within my fields of specialization: essentially tone systems, East/Southeast Asian languages (in particular: the Naish subgroup of Sino-Tibetan; Vietnamese; and some other Sino-Tibetan and Austroasiatic languages), and historical phonology.

I don't conceal my identity. Since most of my work is available on the Internet, Wikipedia users and editors can judge for themselves whether my edits are in accordance with Wikipedia's conflict-of-interest and other usage guidelines. My ORCID identifier is 0000-0003-1165-2680. This is my current professional webpage. There's also a page in Wikipedia about me.

I have admiration and respect for Wikipedia editors who keep up the work in good faith, navigating the rough waters and remaining truthful to the project's ideal. I am fond of collaborative edits and constructive criticism. I wish Wikipedia pages could set in relief the diversity of viewpoints and sharpen readers' critical abilities (a model here is Kurosawa's film Rashōmon 羅生門). I wish all Wikipedia pages would gradually improve in terms of clarity, structure and strength of argumentation. It is not likely that they will: in my experience, supposedly authoritative references tend to be favoured over debate (publication in prominent media being erroneously seen as a sterling currency). Wikipedian law and order (appealing to Wikipedia's editorial principles) gets prioritized over reflection and questioning, making it hard to convey in Wikipedia articles subtle debate of the sort that shapes scientific research. I continue making occasional edits nonetheless.

I think by now I share most of the defects of my role models, such as Paul Passy and also some living colleagues whom I won't name. Qualities are harder to acquire.