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Language documentation

April 08, 2024

Language documentation (also: documentary linguistics) is a subfield of linguistics which aims to describe the grammar and use of human languages. It aims to provide a comprehensive record of the linguistic practices characteristic of a given speech community.[1][2][3] Language documentation seeks to create as thorough a record as possible of the speech community for both posterity and language revitalization. This record can be public or private depending on the needs of the community and the purpose of the documentation. In practice, language documentation can range from solo linguistic anthropological fieldwork to the creation of vast online archives that contain dozens of different languages, such as FirstVoices or OLAC.[4]

Language documentation provides a firmer foundation for linguistic analysis in that it creates a corpus of materials in the language. The materials in question can range from vocabulary lists and grammar rules to children's books and translated works. These materials can then support claims about the structure of the language and its usage.[5] This should be seen as a basic taxonomic task for linguistics, identifying the range of languages and their characteristics.

Methods edit

Main article: Language documentation tools and methods

Typical steps involve recording, maintaining metadata, transcribing (often using the International Phonetic Alphabet and/or a "practical orthography" made up for that language), annotation and analysis, translation into a language of wider communication, archiving and dissemination.[6] Critical is the creation of good records in the course of doing language description. The materials can be archived, but not all archives are equally adept at handling language materials preserved in varying technological formats, and not all are equally accessible to potential users.[7]

Language documentation complements language description, which aims to describe a language's abstract system of structures and rules in the form of a grammar or dictionary. By practising good documentation in the form of recordings with transcripts and then collections of texts and a dictionary, a linguist works better and can provide materials for use by speakers of the language. New technologies permit better recordings with better descriptions which can be housed in digital archives such as AILLA, Pangloss, or Paradisec. These resources can then be made available to the speakers. The first example of a grammar with a media corpus is Thieberger's grammar of South Efate (2006).[8]

Language documentation has also given birth to new specialized publications, such as the free online and peer-reviewed journal Language Documentation & Conservation and the SOAS working papers Language Documentation & Description.

Digital language archives edit

The digitization of archives is a critical component of language documentation and revitalization projects.[9] There are descriptive records of local languages that could be put to use in language revitalization projects that are overlooked due to obsolete formatting, incomplete hard-copy records, or systematic inaccessibility. Local archives in particular, which may have vital records of the area's indigenous languages, are chronically underfunded and understaffed.[10] Historic records relating to language that have been collected by non-linguists such as missionaries can be overlooked if the collection is not digitized.[11] Physical archives are naturally more vulnerable to damage and information loss.[9]

Teaching with documentation edit

Language documentation can be beneficial to individuals who would like to teach or learn an endangered language.[12] If a language has limited documentation this also limits how it can be used in a language revitalization context. Teaching with documentation and linguist's field notes can provide more context for those teaching the language and can add information they were not aware of.[12] Documentation can be useful for understanding culture and heritage, as well as learning the language. Important components when teaching a language includes: Listening, reading, speaking, writing, and cultural components. Documentation gives resources to further the skills for learning a language.[12] For example, the Kaurna language was revitalized through written resources.[13] These written documents served as the only resource and were used to re-introduce the language and one way was through teaching, which also included the making of a teaching guide for the Kaurna language.[13] Language documentation and teaching have a relationship because if there are no fluent speakers of a language, documentation can be used as a teaching resource.

Types edit

Language description, as a task within linguistics, may be divided into separate areas of specialization:

  • Phonetics, the study of the sounds of human language
  • Phonology, the study of the sound system of a language
  • Morphology, the study of the internal structure of words
  • Syntax, the study of how words combine to form grammatical sentences
  • Semantics, the study of the meaning of words (lexical semantics), and how these combine to form the meanings of sentences
  • Historical linguistics, the study of languages whose historical relations are recognizable through similarities in vocabulary, word formation, and syntax
  • Pragmatics, the study of how language is used by its speakers
  • Stylistics, the study of style in languages
  • Paremiography, the collection of proverbs and sayings

Related research areas edit

Organizations edit

References edit

  1. ^ Himmelmann, Nikolaus P. (1998). "Documentary and descriptive linguistics" (PDF). Linguistics. 36 (1): 161–195. doi:10.1515/ling.1998.36.1.161. S2CID 53134117. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  2. ^ Gippert, Jost; Himmelmann, Nikolaus P.; Mosel, Ulrike, eds. (2006). Essentials of language documentation. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. pp. x, 424. ISBN 978-3-11-018864-6.
  3. ^ Woodbury, Anthony C. (2003). "Defining documentary linguistics". In Austin, Peter K. (ed.). Language documentation and description. Vol. 1. London: SOAS. pp. 35–51. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  4. ^ Bird, Steven; Simons, Gary (2003). "Seven Dimensions of Portability for Language Documentation and Description". Language. 79 (3): 557–582. arXiv:cs/0204020. doi:10.1353/lan.2003.0149. ISSN 0097-8507. JSTOR 4489465. S2CID 2046136.
  5. ^ Cushman, Ellen (2013). "Wampum, Sequoyan, and Story: Decolonizing the Digital Archive". College English. 76 (2): 115–135. ISSN 0010-0994. JSTOR 24238145.
  6. ^ Boerger, Brenda H.; Moeller, Sarah Ruth; Reiman, Will; Self, Stephen (2018). Language and culture documentation manual. Leanpub. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  7. ^ Chang, Debbie. 2011. TAPS: Checklist for Responsible Archiving of Digital Language Resources 2013-06-17 at the Wayback Machine. MA thesis: Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics.
  8. ^ Thieberger, Nick (2006). A Grammar of South Efate: An Oceanic Language of Vanuatu. Oceanic Linguistics Special Publication. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 9780824830618.
  9. ^ a b Conway, Paul (2010). "Preservation in the Age of Google: Digitization, Digital Preservation, and Dilemmas". The Library Quarterly. 80 (1): 61–79. doi:10.1086/648463. hdl:2027.42/85223. JSTOR 10.1086/648463. S2CID 57213909.
  10. ^ Miller, Larisa K. (2013). "All Text Considered: A Perspective on Mass Digitizing and Archival Processing". The American Archivist. 76 (2): 521–541. doi:10.17723/aarc.76.2.6q005254035w2076. ISSN 0360-9081. JSTOR 43490366.
  11. ^ Bickel, Rachel; Dupont, Sarah (2018-11-29). "Indigitization". KULA: Knowledge Creation, Dissemination, and Preservation Studies. 2 (1): 11. doi:10.5334/kula.56. ISSN 2398-4112.
  12. ^ a b c Sapién, Racquel-María; Hirata-Edds, Tracy (2019-07-12). "Using existing documentation for teaching and learning endangered languages". Language and Education. 33 (6): 560–576. doi:10.1080/09500782.2019.1622711. ISSN 0950-0782. S2CID 199154941.
  13. ^ a b Amery, Rob (2009-12-13). Phoenix or Relic? Documentation of Languages with Revitalization in Mind. University of Hawai'i Press. OCLC 651064087.

External links edit

  • Dying Words (2009), by Prof. Nick Evans, about what is lost when languages are lost.
  • The Poet’s Salary (2009), award-winning documentary by Éric Wittersheim, about linguistic fieldwork in northern Vanuatu.
  • The Linguists (2008), documentary film about two linguists traveling the world to rescue languages
  • Recording your elder/Native speaker, practical vocal recording tips for non-professionals
  • Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity, mailing list
  • University of Hawai'i Department of Linguistics
  • Lakota Language Consortium
  • DOBES Documentation of Endangered Languages

April 08, 2024
language, documentation, also, documentary, linguistics, subfield, linguistics, which, aims, describe, grammar, human, languages, aims, provide, comprehensive, record, linguistic, practices, characteristic, given, speech, community, seeks, create, thorough, re. Language documentation also documentary linguistics is a subfield of linguistics which aims to describe the grammar and use of human languages It aims to provide a comprehensive record of the linguistic practices characteristic of a given speech community 1 2 3 Language documentation seeks to create as thorough a record as possible of the speech community for both posterity and language revitalization This record can be public or private depending on the needs of the community and the purpose of the documentation In practice language documentation can range from solo linguistic anthropological fieldwork to the creation of vast online archives that contain dozens of different languages such as FirstVoices or OLAC 4 Language documentation provides a firmer foundation for linguistic analysis in that it creates a corpus of materials in the language The materials in question can range from vocabulary lists and grammar rules to children s books and translated works These materials can then support claims about the structure of the language and its usage 5 This should be seen as a basic taxonomic task for linguistics identifying the range of languages and their characteristics Contents 1 Methods 2 Digital language archives 3 Teaching with documentation 4 Types 5 Related research areas 6 Organizations 7 References 8 External linksMethods editMain article Language documentation tools and methods Typical steps involve recording maintaining metadata transcribing often using the International Phonetic Alphabet and or a practical orthography made up for that language annotation and analysis translation into a language of wider communication archiving and dissemination 6 Critical is the creation of good records in the course of doing language description The materials can be archived but not all archives are equally adept at handling language materials preserved in varying technological formats and not all are equally accessible to potential users 7 Language documentation complements language description which aims to describe a language s abstract system of structures and rules in the form of a grammar or dictionary By practising good documentation in the form of recordings with transcripts and then collections of texts and a dictionary a linguist works better and can provide materials for use by speakers of the language New technologies permit better recordings with better descriptions which can be housed in digital archives such as AILLA Pangloss or Paradisec These resources can then be made available to the speakers The first example of a grammar with a media corpus is Thieberger s grammar of South Efate 2006 8 Language documentation has also given birth to new specialized publications such as the free online and peer reviewed journal Language Documentation amp Conservation and the SOAS working papers Language Documentation amp Description Digital language archives editThe digitization of archives is a critical component of language documentation and revitalization projects 9 There are descriptive records of local languages that could be put to use in language revitalization projects that are overlooked due to obsolete formatting incomplete hard copy records or systematic inaccessibility Local archives in particular which may have vital records of the area s indigenous languages are chronically underfunded and understaffed 10 Historic records relating to language that have been collected by non linguists such as missionaries can be overlooked if the collection is not digitized 11 Physical archives are naturally more vulnerable to damage and information loss 9 Teaching with documentation editLanguage documentation can be beneficial to individuals who would like to teach or learn an endangered language 12 If a language has limited documentation this also limits how it can be used in a language revitalization context Teaching with documentation and linguist s field notes can provide more context for those teaching the language and can add information they were not aware of 12 Documentation can be useful for understanding culture and heritage as well as learning the language Important components when teaching a language includes Listening reading speaking writing and cultural components Documentation gives resources to further the skills for learning a language 12 For example the Kaurna language was revitalized through written resources 13 These written documents served as the only resource and were used to re introduce the language and one way was through teaching which also included the making of a teaching guide for the Kaurna language 13 Language documentation and teaching have a relationship because if there are no fluent speakers of a language documentation can be used as a teaching resource Types editLanguage description as a task within linguistics may be divided into separate areas of specialization Phonetics the study of the sounds of human language Phonology the study of the sound system of a language Morphology the study of the internal structure of words Syntax the study of how words combine to form grammatical sentences Semantics the study of the meaning of words lexical semantics and how these combine to form the meanings of sentences Historical linguistics the study of languages whose historical relations are recognizable through similarities in vocabulary word formation and syntax Pragmatics the study of how language is used by its speakers Stylistics the study of style in languages Paremiography the collection of proverbs and sayingsRelated research areas editLinguistic description Orthography the study of writing systems Lexicography the study and practice of making dictionaries Phonology the study of describing the sound system of a language Etymology the study of how words acquire their meanings Anthropological linguisticsOrganizations editDoBeS First Peoples Heritage Language and Culture Council LACITO and the Pangloss Collection The Language Conservancy PARADISEC Archive The Endangered Languages Archive ELAR Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity SIL International Western Institute for Endangered Language Documentation WIELD World Oral Literature Project Voices of Vanishing WorldsReferences edit Himmelmann Nikolaus P 1998 Documentary and descriptive linguistics PDF Linguistics 36 1 161 195 doi 10 1515 ling 1998 36 1 161 S2CID 53134117 Retrieved 2018 01 18 Gippert Jost Himmelmann Nikolaus P Mosel Ulrike eds 2006 Essentials of language documentation Berlin Mouton de Gruyter pp x 424 ISBN 978 3 11 018864 6 Woodbury Anthony C 2003 Defining documentary linguistics In Austin Peter K ed Language documentation and description Vol 1 London SOAS pp 35 51 Retrieved 2018 01 18 Bird Steven Simons Gary 2003 Seven Dimensions of Portability for Language Documentation and Description Language 79 3 557 582 arXiv cs 0204020 doi 10 1353 lan 2003 0149 ISSN 0097 8507 JSTOR 4489465 S2CID 2046136 Cushman Ellen 2013 Wampum Sequoyan and Story Decolonizing the Digital Archive College English 76 2 115 135 ISSN 0010 0994 JSTOR 24238145 Boerger Brenda H Moeller Sarah Ruth Reiman Will Self Stephen 2018 Language and culture documentation manual Leanpub Retrieved 2018 01 18 Chang Debbie 2011 TAPS Checklist for Responsible Archiving of Digital Language Resources Archived 2013 06 17 at the Wayback Machine MA thesis Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics Thieberger Nick 2006 A Grammar of South Efate An Oceanic Language of Vanuatu Oceanic Linguistics Special Publication Honolulu University of Hawai i Press ISBN 9780824830618 a b Conway Paul 2010 Preservation in the Age of Google Digitization Digital Preservation and Dilemmas The Library Quarterly 80 1 61 79 doi 10 1086 648463 hdl 2027 42 85223 JSTOR 10 1086 648463 S2CID 57213909 Miller Larisa K 2013 All Text Considered A Perspective on Mass Digitizing and Archival Processing The American Archivist 76 2 521 541 doi 10 17723 aarc 76 2 6q005254035w2076 ISSN 0360 9081 JSTOR 43490366 Bickel Rachel Dupont Sarah 2018 11 29 Indigitization KULA Knowledge Creation Dissemination and Preservation Studies 2 1 11 doi 10 5334 kula 56 ISSN 2398 4112 a b c Sapien Racquel Maria Hirata Edds Tracy 2019 07 12 Using existing documentation for teaching and learning endangered languages Language and Education 33 6 560 576 doi 10 1080 09500782 2019 1622711 ISSN 0950 0782 S2CID 199154941 a b Amery Rob 2009 12 13 Phoenix or Relic Documentation of Languages with Revitalization in Mind University of Hawai i Press OCLC 651064087 External links editDying Words 2009 by Prof Nick Evans about what is lost when languages are lost The Poet s Salary 2009 award winning documentary by Eric Wittersheim about linguistic fieldwork in northern Vanuatu The Linguists 2008 documentary film about two linguists traveling the world to rescue languages Recording your elder Native speaker practical vocal recording tips for non professionals Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity mailing list University of Hawai i Department of Linguistics Lakota Language Consortium DOBES Documentation of Endangered Languages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Language documentation amp oldid 1174989990, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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