Frames in RGC

During an RGC workshop, the work team studies different word categories and morphemes using frames from natural language texts. The goal of these sessions is to better understand the language's grammar and what sound changes happen in which environments. This will help the team make spelling decisions that fit the language. 

Use the activities below to prepare frames and word lists that can be used during the workshop. These preparations should be done after revising and marking the texts from the community, according to the guidelines listed on the Prepare Texts page. 

Prepare Word Category Examples

Before studying specific categories in detail, it is often helpful if the facilitator leads participants through an overview of the different word categories that exist in the language. To prepare for this overview session, the facilator should choose a simple sentence from one of the texts. Different word categories can be illustrated by adding to or changing one part of the sentence, as described in the guide below.

Prepare Frames for Word Categories

During the workshop, the team will use frames for different word categories to check for sound changes, mark tone and decide spelling rules. Facilitators will need to select these frames ahead of time and make lists of words that can be checked in each frame.  

Overview: Word Category Frames

Materials Needed

• Several texts in the target langauge that have been revised and marked 

• Wordlist provided by the community

• Notebook + pencil

Instructions

1. Using the texts and wordlist, create lists of words for each word category, focusing on one word category at a time. More detailed instructions are posted below for pronouns, adpositions/locatives, adjectives, and demonstratives/indefinite pronouns. 

2. For each word category, find a frame(s) that can be used to research that category further during the workshop. 

Chart Example Words:

Compounds, Derived Words, Minimal Pairs & Verbs

Many workshop sessions will involve comparing words of a particular type, marking tone and deciding spelling rules that will handle all words in that category (to the extent possible). Facilitators should prepare for these sessions by making lists of words for the team to review together. This includes words such as compounds, derived words, miminal pairs and verbs. In particular, verbs should be charted 3 times - once by use (same TAM different lexeme), once by form (same lexeme different TAM) and once by transitivity. The facilitator can also use the "Verb Forms" chart as a reference when choosing frames for verbal morphemes (see "Frames for Morphemes" below). 

Overview: Word Charts

Materials Needed

• A copy of all marked texts

• Wordlist from the community

• Notebook + pencil

Instructions

1. Look through the texts and wordlist for examples of the following types of words, focusing on one type of word at a time: compound nouns, derived nouns, compound verbs, derived verbs and minimal pairs. Chart the examples you find, following the guides below.

2. List the different TAM uses of verbs you find in the text, such as past time, habitual aspect, etc. Then write each verb (lexeme) that occurs in the text in as many diffferent forms (spellings) as you can find. Lastly, create separate charts for intransitive and transitive verbs. 

Prepare Frames for Morphemes

RGC also uses frames to study the morphology of nouns and verbs. During these sessions, representative words are placed in a frame to see how if and how the words change when a particular morpheme attaches to them. The team also marks tone in the context of the frame and decides spelling rules for all morphemes and sound changes.

 The facilitator will need to select frames for these sessions ahead of time. When choosing a frame, it is important to choose an instance where the word that the morpheme is bound to can be substituted with many other words, most especially the words selected for the representative word lists. 

Overview: Frames for Morphemes

Materials Needed

• Several texts in the target langauge that have been revised and marked 

• Notebook + pencil

• "Verb Forms" Chart (See Guide: Verb Uses, Forms & Transitivity)

Instructions

1. Look for any evidence that the langauge distinguishes between possession for different types of nouns. List any differences you find and choose a frame for each one. 

2. Look through the texts for different morphemes that bind to nouns. Choose a frame for each affix/particle you find. 

3. Look through your "Verb Forms" chart for possible morphemes.* Choose a frame for each morpheme you find and use the guide below to write each frame with 15-20 representative verbs. 

*When working with an isolating language that has little or no bound morphemes, use this preparation time to look for common particles in the text. Chart each particle along with example sentences that show every type of construction where the particle is found. 

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