mercoledì 27 giugno 2012

Very nice podcast on documentation projects

Wonderful podcast by Claire Bowern on how to plan a documentation project on endangered languages. I suggest to take 20 minutes and listen to it and get a very clear idea of what are the thoughts and the actions developping around the enterprise of recording and preserving languages that will soon or later disappear. There are other podcasts by Bowern, that I will post in the coming days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5kYDOU6nAA&feature=youtu.be

martedì 26 giugno 2012

Video quality and format in language documentation

We, "language documenters", are not film makers, but video is crucial in our research. It is needed to show the cutural practices related ot linguistic meaning and to show what is meant with certain linguistic expessions, constructions and lexemes. But do we really need the most advanced video recording solution, such as HD or 3D? Do we even need to record into a .VOB format, considering that this must be necessarely converted for editing? All this search of the best quality of the pitcure needs time, money, storage space and a loss of definition anyway because of conversion. I wonder if we should first of all use filming skills and make reasonable recording directly in MPEG4 with no need of conversion and with a machine that trasfer files just dragging them into a computer. Now that we are thinking about the kind of video equipment to buy for our Dobes Haro and Bayso project, we are asking ourselves all these questions. We planned so make decisions according to the suggestions we'll get during the training on technology and language documentation that will be held at the Max Planck Institut in Nijmegen from 2 to 6 July. Looking so much forward for that!

sabato 23 giugno 2012

Starting a project means revising what has been planned to make it real!

Dealing with research contracts, how to apply for childcare benefits, still working in the equiments. This Bayso Haro project is complex, but we'll make it. German precision is having a nice effect on me that I am so imprecise and give things for granted. After the end of my job in the private sector last thursday, I feel like I have to review everything I have done so far, revise towards feasebility and well management of money with an eye to the needs. One of us, for example, need to go earlier to the field to demonstrate that he is working on this project for his PhD and jusfify the abandon of his previous PhD project (thank you immesely Endash for having chosen us!). No problem, it is a matter of planning and explaining. The ideal was to fo fieldwork together, at least those working on Bayso and those working on Haro, but if there are such vital needs, we have to compensate, well planning and execute with no hurt. I am working at that but...it is weekend, the first weekend with no job as an helpdesk after ten months. I will come back on monday well recharged after a nice and well deserved rest.

mercoledì 20 giugno 2012

Today was the day dedicated to electronic equipment. There is one apparent paradox in working on the documentation of little languages spoken in exotic areas. On the other hand the researcher has to adapt to quite difficult enviroment and organise in the most comfortable way his/her stay. On the other hand, the research work is not possible with the use of hi-tech.
One could spend thousands of euros on this, but we have a budget limit. It is normal to use own material. For example, I already have a recorder, a microphone and external hard disks. Today I have been searching for a notebooks and videocameras. I find notebooks the best solution in the fields for their dimension and the autonomy of the battery. As for the camcoder, I decided to consult with the people that will organise a training on the technological aspects of doing language documentation. I would like a real camera, but to get a very goon prices go from 2-3000 euros. We have only 1400 and should buy 2. May be we'll go for good photocameras. Eventually we are not going to make movies. It is rather reasonably good filming of people telling stories, chatting and other cultural and interactional events. The training will take place at the Max Planck Institute in Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, from 2 to 6 July.

martedì 19 giugno 2012

Starting the blog

It is my intention today to start a blog on my experience as researcher specialised in the documentation of endangered languages. The idea comes from a discussion of the boss of the company where I still work waiting for the start of my next postdoc research on Bayso and Haro, two endangered language of Ethiopia. Once I told him that I actually am one of the few specialists of Ethiopian languages he replies “and what are you doing here, then, working as a heldesk computer technician? You must be famous all around the world thanks to what you do and how you share your work worldwide with you blog!”. I reacted like, you are right, I should have a blog. I want to share the interesting things I do and get to know experiences from other researchers. I will do now that I can go back to research leaving the helpdesk job that, yes, allowed me and my family to survive, but it is not what I actually do best and I want to do. It was a nice experience, any way. On Thursday 21 June 2012 I quit and concentrate on my research activities and, among other things, to this blog...Ciao!