LIN 1256: Advanced Language Variation & Change
Language Contact, Corpora & Analysis
Sample Design Assignment
Now that we have finished the first two sections of the course, you should have a good idea of the data you will need to conduct your research in a way that will give satisfactory results. In this assignment, you will describe, via tables, the distribution of speakers that is needed, as well as specifying the specific corpus/corpora and files that will be needed to fill this sample. Think about these questions:
- What are the different categories of speakers needed?
- How do you know what speakers fit each category?
- How many speakers do you need in each category?
- Which speakers will be in each category?
- How much data will you need from each speaker?
- Do the files you have listed provide sufficient data? (You may need to do some quick searches to get an idea.)
Please prepare two tables. Provide appropriate captions or accompanying prose so that you can clearly attribute the source(s) of data and any other answers to the above questions that aren't clear from the tables themselves.
- Table 1 should lay out the sample design.
- Table 2 should profile the speakers showing how they fit in the categories of your sample design.
You may wish to refer back to the Schleef & Meyerhoff paper's section on sampling (Sections 1.3 & 1.4). Their Table in Section 1.4 is a good model of a sample design table. Table 3 in Blondeau & Nagy 2008 is a model of a table illustrating speaker profiles.
I recommend that you discuss plans and ideas with each other! Please use the Discussion Board function in Bb to ensure that we all have access.
We will devote some class time to further discussion. I'm happy to talk to you about it during my office hours as well.
