Technical and Practical

Below you will find suggestions of resources and activities to help develop your knowledge and skills for the Technical and Practical competencies for orthography consultants.

For a fuller list of resources relating to orthography, visit SIL Global’s orthography website (here). You will find resources on a wide range of different orthography-related topics, resources focused on particular geographic areas, and SIL Global’s orthography video series.

Technology Issues

Can apply knowledge of technology issues to orthography develop so that the orthography is usable on local devices.

- - Understand the need for using Unicode, including the difference between wordforming and non-wordforming characters, so that the orthography can be used with various software.
  - Use keyboard software (e.g. Keyman) where relevant.
  - Investigate what technology is in common use in the local situation, and its capability.
  - Apply knowledge of technology issues to orthography development.

Rationale: Technology issues are crucial in usability of an orthography on various devices and with various software.

Expand this section to find suggestions of resources and activities to help develop your knowledge and skills in this area.

Here are some resource suggestions, and examples of activities, to help you develop knowledge of technology issues:

.Unicode Technical Note #19: Recommendations for creating new orthographies
Keyman
Discover how national and education languages in your work area input the characters of their orthographies.

Here are some examples of activities for developing your knowledge (working with a mentor as necessary).

Research the technology available in the local situation, and the ease with which special orthographic symbols can be used using this technology.

Here are some examples of activities for developing your ability to assist teams and local communities.

Advise local communities on the intersection of orthographic decisions and locally available technology, and where necessary, connect them to Writing Systems Technology helpers.

Communication

Can communicate appropriately to both a technical and non-technical audience, in both written and oral presentation.

- - Explain orthographic principles to a variety of audiences, including uninformed audiences.
  - Present in writing and in oral form, orthography decisions and the reasons for those decisions, both with established technical terminology, and with simplified terminology accessible to those without a high level of formal education.

Rationale: An orthography does not stand in isolation, but needs support from a number of stakeholders, including but not limited to, the community, universities and governments, and funding agencies, so a worker must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences.

Expand this section to find suggestions of resources and activities to help develop your knowledge and skills in this area.

Here are some examples of resources and activities for developing your skills in communication (working with a mentor as appropriate).

SIL Orthography video 22: Orthography Statements.
Compare three different presentations geared towards different audiences, particularly comparing how they accommodate the different needs of the hearers.
Read three different orthography statements and/or spelling guides and reflect on how their nature takes account of the intended readers/users.
Present at least two different types of orthography presentation/statement/proposal. One should be for a technical audience; the other in a style and using terminology accessible to those without a high level of formal education.

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