[Lexicog] Checking with speakers

[List Facilitator]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne Leman" <wayne_leman at sil.org>
To: <lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 10:47 AM
Subject: [Lexicog] Checking with speakers


> > When checking with speakers, what sorts of questions do you ask?
> What is it
> > that you are seeking to check?
>
> Good question about questions, Susan!  :-)
>
> There is an art to asking good questions of native speakers for
> lexical data. Obviously, one should not sit across the table from a
> native speaker and ask: "What are all the words in your language?"
> One techniques I have found helpful, which seems to resonate with the
> way speakers of many languages think, is to approach different areas
> (semantic domains) of life. For instance, you could say to the
> language consultant: "Let's talk about animals. What are the names of
> wild animals in your language? What are the names of animals that are
> tame which might be around your homes?" From there you can move to
> other questions about animals, such as asking, "What is it called in
> your language when animals go searching for food?" You can work on
> sounds that different animals make:
>
> "What is it called in your language when _________ makes its sound?"
>
> You can read more about this kind of elicitation technique on our
> Lexicography List website (address below) in the Files section, in
> the DDP (Dictionary Development Program) folder. I suggest you start
> with the separate article posted in that folder,
> titled "SA_article.doc"
>
> >
> > And more generally, could the list suggest books, online courses or
> > conferences where I could learn more about lexicography?
>
> You can find a number of good books, conferences, course syllabi,
> etc. in the Links section of our website. One of the best books I
> have recently read is "Making Dictionaries: Preserving Indigenous
> Languages of the Americas, ed. by Frawley, Hill, and Munro." Co-
> authors Kenneth Hill and Pam Munro are both members of this
> discussion list.
>
> Best wishes as you work on your first dictionary. Once you catch the
> dictionary bug, it likely will not leave you!
>
> Wayne Leman
> Cheyenne Dictionary Project
>
> >
> > Thanks,
> > --
> > Susan Gehr
> > Karuk Language Program Director
> > Karuk Tribe of California
> > (530) 493-5305 x2205
> > sgehr at k...
> >
> > Karuk Language Resources on the Web - http://www.karuk.org/
>
>
>
>
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