Nakeisha Daniel

2025-26 Long-term Public Humanities Fellow

Linguistic Hierarchies: Gullah-Geechee x Shakespearean English (What Language Remembers)

What Language Remembers is an interdisciplinary exploration of the historical, performative, and linguistic intersections between Gullah-Geechee and Shakespearean English, aimed at elevating the Gullah-Geechee tradition through a critical lens. Drawing on historical research, linguistic and phonetic analysis, and storytelling practices, the project highlights how both systems—one shaped by the survival strategies of enslaved Africans, the other by the literary ambitions of Renaissance England – use rhythm, tone, and narrative to transmit identity, memory, and resistance.

Rather than seeking equivalence, the project places these traditions in dialogue to challenge linguistic hierarchies and affirm Gullah-Geechee as a sophisticated and vital cultural system. Through the collaborative work of JaMeeka Holloway, Nakeisha Daniel, and Dr. Jessica Berry, the project culminates in public-facing programs including a live storytelling event, podcast series, and participatory workshops.