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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Dear Colleagues,</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt">In preparation of the transcription and the analysis of data of a
research on child language development (3-6 years), focussing
on: lexicon, morpho-syntax and discourse, we have been
discussing the (dis)-advantages of using CHAT/CLAN
programme. I am listing below a number of statements on the
disadvantages of using CHAT/CLAN in data analysis. I would
like from to hear from you whether these statements are true or. </span></font></div>
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<li style="margin-left=8mm; margin-right=0mm; padding-left=0mm; font-family= Times New Roman; font-size= 12pt; color= #010101; ">
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt">We should reconsider whether to make transcripts
directly in CHAT or first in MS Word (and to export the
transcript as .rtf to CHAT or to another processor).
Arguments contra working directly in CHAT: less
flexibility, more difficulties with exporting to other
programs. </span></font></div>
</li>
<li style="margin-left=8mm; margin-right=0mm; padding-left=0mm; font-family= Times New Roman; font-size= 12pt; color= #010101; "><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12pt">There is discussion and careful consideration needed how
to do the actual coding. The classical CHAT-approach is
adding (and filling out) code-lines below each utterance.
With the analysis program CLAN a number of operations
are possible, but as far as we know it all boils down to
counting codes per transcript or computing a ratio. For
further analysis, over sessions and subjects, a form of
exportation to SPSS (or EXCEL) is needed, but
CHAT/CLAN seems to lack direct options for that.
Exportation will mean entering data (that is, printed
results from many CLAN-runs) in SPSS by hand.</span></font>
</li>
<li style="margin-left=8mm; margin-right=0mm; padding-left=0mm; font-family= Times New Roman; font-size= 12pt; color= #010101; "><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span
style="font-size:12pt">Another disadvantage is that CHAT/CLAN seems to
have difficulties with dealing with different levels of
aggregation, that is, provides no explicit and easy ways of
coding of the ‘multilevel/nested’ structure of the speech
data. SPSS (or EXCEL) is much more transparent in this
respect and has procedures for computing aggregate
scores (and the reverse, for de-aggregating scores).</span></font></li>
</ul>
<br/>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size:12pt">We welcome all other comments on the use of CHAT/CLAN in
general. Thanks in advance.</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Yours,</span></font></div>
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<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Yahya E-Rramdani</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Tilburg University</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Babylon: Centre for Studies of the Multicultural Society</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Tilburg University</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">PB 90153</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">5000 LE Tilburg</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">The Netherlands</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">Tel: +31 (0)13-466.20.27 </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">FAx: +31-(0)13-466.31.10</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10pt">http://let.uvt.nl/GENERAL/PEOPLE/YE-RRAMD/</span></font></div>
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