摘要
本文回顧幾篇相關論文以說明對於田野工作者而言，「地方知識」的意義，及其對田野工作的啟發。本文認為，在發掘地方的「意義結構」同時，田野工作者必須注意到環境發展論述（environment-development discourse）的提示，亦即，雖然「地方知識」是紮根於地方的、具空間特性的實踐，具有實際的、集體的暗示，但由於它涉及多重社會行動者與權力關係的社會協商過程，因而也可能是互相較勁和混種的，故而也不可將之與普遍性知識對立。本文亦強調知識人類學所指出的，研究者嘗試用本身的知識，解釋非其自身的文化現象是有問題的，而知識、權力，與意識形態的關係，更提醒田野工作者注意知識的生產與分配中，不對等的社會關係。是故，本文以為田野工作者也不應該耽溺於地方知識即是傳統或博物館展品的浪漫想法。這樣的「地方知識」主張及其「田野工作」，質言之，並不以敘述、建構，也不僅以詮釋、批判一個靜態的知識為足，而期盼著進行反思性的，具實踐意涵的研究與調查。
並列摘要
This paper reviews and further illustrates the meaning of ”local knowledge” and its inspiration for ethnographic fieldwork. It suggests that the fieldworker elaborates an environment-development discourse while targeting the structure of local meaning. Such discourse elucidates local knowledge for its regional and specific spatial applications, thereby revealing its practical and collective implications. Local knowledge is thus understood as multiple processes of negotiation involving social actors and power relations; hence, it is a reproduction of competition and heterogenization, which are, paradoxically, perceived to be incompatible with common knowledge. The anthropology of knowledge has problematized the conduct research, in which investigators constantly adapt exotic cultural phenomena to fit their own knowledge. The relationship of knowledge, power and ideology sheds light on the unequal social relationships in the production and distribution of knowledge. Local knowledge must not be romanticized as traditions or artifacts of museum. Rather, it demands investigation based on more reflexive - and practical-based understandings than on static description, construction or explanation.