From gee to haw (and everything in between): Deconstructing the transspecies pidgin of mushing in northern Saskatchewan
type: CreativeWork
description: This multispecies ethnography deconstructs the Gee Haw transspecies pidgin of settler origin mushing in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Through a focus on multisensory methodological inquiry, I describe interspecies communication and human perceptions around nonhuman knowledge in the context of sled dog racing. This pidgin is a product of biconstructivism which includes motherese (verbal) words rooted in the English language, vocalisation, short phrases for reinforcement, the use of material devices, and training methodologies to shape a multisensory experience of interspecies collaboration. Dogs are considered nonhuman athletes in this hybrid community. They are bred, cared and trained for their “drive”, speed, endurance and the ability to understand commands. The sled dog exchange is explored through the lens of team sports and perceptions around nonhuman “occupation” are explained. This study aims to contribute towards an academic space given to more than human communication by detailing its findings from Gee (right) to Haw (left) and everything in between. Keywords: mushing, pidgin, dog-human communication, nonhuman athletes, haptic sociality
abstract: This multispecies ethnography deconstructs the Gee Haw transspecies pidgin of settler origin mushing in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Through a focus on multisensory methodological inquiry, I describe interspecies communication and human perceptions around nonhuman knowledge in the context of sled dog racing. This pidgin is a product of biconstructivism which includes motherese (verbal) words rooted in the English language, vocalisation, short phrases for reinforcement, the use of material devices, and training methodologies to shape a multisensory experience of interspecies collaboration. Dogs are considered nonhuman athletes in this hybrid community. They are bred, cared and trained for their “drive”, speed, endurance and the ability to understand commands. The sled dog exchange is explored through the lens of team sports and perceptions around nonhuman “occupation” are explained. This study aims to contribute towards an academic space given to more than human communication by detailing its findings from Gee (right) to Haw (left) and everything in between. Keywords: mushing, pidgin, dog-human communication, nonhuman athletes, haptic sociality
author: Doley Barman, Pradeep Ranjan
language: en
date published: 2024-07
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:03:30Z
provider: University of Regina
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10294/16523

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.82465/4010