Oral Annotation Methods
Olivia Sammons
Chris Cox
This workshop offers a practical introduction to oral annotation methods for documentary linguistics and language revitalization. In oral annotation workflows, a recorded communicative event is reviewed in real time by a commentator, who pauses playback to offer spoken commentary at regular intervals. This spoken commentary is recorded, creating oral annotations that are directly associated with the corresponding segment of the original recording.
While oral annotation is increasingly common as a means of rapidly annotating language resources in language documentation and revitalization, little training is currently available in this area. This course provides a hands-on introduction to current methods, presenting software tools and recording techniques for oral annotation and discussing how these methods can be effectively integrated into language documentation and revitalization projects.
Course goals
This workshop offers a practical introduction to oral annotation methods for documentary linguistics and language revitalization. In oral annotation workflows, a recorded communicative event is reviewed in real time by a commentator, who pauses playback to offer spoken commentary at regular intervals. This spoken commentary is recorded, creating oral annotations that are directly associated with the corresponding segment of the original recording.
While oral annotation is increasingly common as a means of rapidly annotating language resources in language documentation and revitalization, little training is currently available in this area. This course provides a hands-on introduction to current methods, presenting software tools and recording techniques for oral annotation and discussing how these methods can be effectively integrated into language documentation and revitalization projects.
Student learning objectives
Through this workshop, participants will gain practical, hands-on experience with current approaches to oral annotation, enabling participants to apply these methods creatively in their own documentation and revitalization projects. To this end, participants will:
Become familiar with and apply current software tools for oral annotation;
Practice recording techniques associated with current oral annotation methods;
Apply oral annotation techniques to language resources stemming from language documentation and revitalization;
Become more familiar with issues related to metadata and archiving of orally annotated materials.
Participants are encouraged to consider how these methods might be applied in their ongoing documentation and/or revitalization work. Both instructors will be available for consultation with participants on applying these methods to their own projects.
Instructional methods
Course instruction combines introductory discussion of oral annotation methods and tools with extensive hands-on exercises.
Supplies needed:
As this workshop will be held in a space with networked computers, participants may choose to bring their own laptops, but are not required to do so. Although the instructors will provide example materials for the exercises in each lecture, participants are also encouraged to bring their own language materials for annotation.
Course materials
No course materials are required. The instructors will make their instructional materials for each workshop session available through the CoLang 2016 website.
Evaluation
Oral Annotation Methods is evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis. To assess participants’ learning, each workshop session will involve a hands-on exercise that applies the oral annotation concepts covered in that session. These exercises will be reviewed by the instructors as part of participants’ final evaluations. Full attendance is required to receive a grade of Pass.
Disability services
The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. The instructors will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (208 WHIT, 474-5655) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.
