Embedded Files
Create Cards
Create Cards
Before the workshop, words from the local langauge will need to be written onto cards, one word per card. It is recommended to have approximately 1500 cards prepared before the workshop.
Time Estimate:
10 hours
Materials Needed
1500+ cards (slips of paper)
Cut at least 1500 cards (slips of paper), approximately 4in x 2.5 in, from sheets of blank paper. Try to make all your cards the same size.
If you are using A4 paper, each sheet can be cut into 8 cards. To make them equal in size, fold the paper in half 3 times (legthwise 1x, then the short sides together 2x) to make 8 sections. Unfold it so that it is flat again and cut on the folds. You can put several pages under the folded paper to cut more papers at once. It will take 188 pieces of A4 paper to make 1500 cards.
Erasable pencil
Do not use a pen or colored pencils - it is important to be able to update spelling and other information on the card. Write as neatly as you can so people can read the cards easily.
Natural langauge data, including...
Wordlist provided by the community
Prepared Texts provided by the community (after revision)
Existing literacy books (if any)
Computer with Field Language Explorer (FLEx)
Instructions
Transfer words from the wordlist to cards.
Begin with the wordlist provided by the community. Put all the nouns and verbs on the list onto individual cards according to the format below (see "Card Format").* Also make cards for words that seem like adjectives, but not numbers, prepositions, conjunctions, demonstratives or other word categories with a limited number of words.
Create a FLEx entry for each card.
Enter each word into a draft FLEx Lexicon file. This makes it easy to see which words are already on cards and how they are spelled. Having a reference list helps prevents creating duplicate cards when more words are added later.
Add words from the texts.
After revising the texts provided by the community (see Prepare Texts), create cards for any nouns, verbs or adjectives that are found in these texts but not in the word list. As before, also enter each word in the draft FLEx file. In both the FLEx entries and on the cards, write the line number of where the word occurs in the text, as a reference for later.
Add words from other available literature.
As time allows, create cards and FLEx entries for additional words found in existing literacy books.
*All examples are from the Zhire [zhi] language
Card Format
Card Format
Word (2 forms)
Word (2 forms)
In the center of the card, write 2 forms of the word, one below the other.
For Nouns: Write the singular form with the plural form beneath it (if the forms are different).
For Verbs: Write 2 simple forms of the verb (if given in the word list), such as an infinitive and an imperative.
If no second noun/verb form is found, leave a blank space so you can add one later.
Gloss
Gloss
Under the word forms, write a gloss or simple definition in a langauge(s) of wider communication
Make sure to leave a blank space below the gloss for other information to be added later.
Word Category
Word Category
In the lower right corner, write your best guess of the word category (for example, "n" for noun and "v" for verb).
Word categories will later be confirmed during the workshop.
Source Reference
Source Reference
In the lower left corner, note the source text, page and line number of where the word was found. This enables you to quickly check the context of the word during the workshop. (Some verbs and particles may be difficult for participants to recognize out of context.)
Add to the Cards during the Workshop
Add to the Cards during the Workshop
Other information should be added to the cards as different sounds and features of the language are confirmed through workshop activities. The noun card layout below shows in blue the type of information it is helpful to add as the workshop progresses.
Example Noun Card Layout
Example Noun Card Layout
Dialect Differences
Dialect Differences
Include dialect differences when making cards. If the language has only occasional dialect differences, word variations can simply be added to a blank space on the relevant card. The variation(s) should be listed in the word's dictionary entry as well.
For languages with substantial dialect differences, use the alternate card format below, writing all dialectal variations of one word below the other. Only include the singular and plural forms that differ from the most common dialect. This will speed up the card-making process while still accurately recording all relevant information. Label each set of words by dialect, so that readers can find their dialect more quickly. Use lines to highlight the most common dialect, as illustrated below.
Noun Card Format for Dialect Differences
Noun Card Format for Dialect Differences
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