Social Networks - Revision history

Admin at 00:29, 23 June 2011

2011-06-23T00:29:47Z

Admin at 03:32, 22 June 2011

2011-06-22T03:32:20Z

Katie Crystal: Took out table of contents and edited headings

2011-04-13T14:28:01Z

Took out table of contents and edited headings

Katie Crystal: Added some more info on what SNA is as well as some resources for further reading

2011-04-12T14:58:28Z

Added some more info on what SNA is as well as some resources for further reading

Admin at 06:24, 17 January 2011

2011-01-17T06:24:22Z

Admin: Created page with '==Rationale== Language surveyors rarely assess social networks directly. But social networks play a great part in influencing language and therefore in determining the outcome of…'

2011-01-17T06:23:34Z

Created page with '==Rationale== Language surveyors rarely assess social networks directly. But social networks play a great part in influencing language and therefore in determining the outcome of…'

New page

==Rationale==
Language surveyors rarely assess social networks directly. But social networks play a great part in influencing language and therefore in determining the outcome of language development programmes.

Particularly if we are involved in informing strategies which involve clusters of communities, we need to be able to assess the extent to which communities can and do work together. In addition, it is essential that communities take ownership of the development of their own languages. A good understanding of the social networks that exist in a community can give some indication as to whether that community will, as a whole, engage with a development programme.

==Tools==
* The [[SIL]] language survey team in Papua New Guinea have developed and are trialling a [[Community Connection Tool]] using [[Participatory Methods]]. This is in order to assess how multiplex the social networks of a particular community may be. In addition, the tool is also intended to reveal attitudes to different surrounding communities through the process of evaluating those they feel they have the best connection with. This tool was developed to provide data to inform language project managers about the potential of particular communities to participate in multi-language projects.
* Sociolingustic interviews or questionnaires can also reveal a great deal about social networks. See the [[Questionnaires#Sample_Questionnaires]] page for an example of a Contact Pattern Questionnaire which would provide data about social networking.

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 :*Not for the faint of heart.
 ==References==
 <references/>
 [[Category:Research_Topics]]

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 ==Rationale==
 Language surveyors rarely assess social networks directly. But social networks play a great part in influencing language and therefore in determining the outcome of language development programmes.
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 Graham, Steve and Trina
 :1997.  Social Network Theory: Toward an Application to Sociolinguistics, Language Assessment, and Language Development.  Proceedings from SIL International Language Assessment Conference.  6 June, Session V, Paper 2- 1 to 30.  Horsleys Green, England: SIL International.
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 <references/>

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 Language surveyors rarely assess social networks directly. But social networks play a great part in influencing language and therefore in determining the outcome of language development programmes.
-Particularly if we are involved in informing strategies which involve clusters of communities, we need to be able to assess the extent to which communities can and do work together. In addition, it is essential that communities take ownership of the development of their own languages. A good understanding of the social networks that exist in a community can give some indication as to whether that community will, as a whole, engage with a development programme.
+Particularly if we are involved in informing strategies which involve clusters of communities, we need to be able to assess the extent to which communities can and do work together. In addition, it is essential that communities take ownership of the development of their own languages. A good understanding of the social networks that exist in a community can give some indication as to whether that community will, as a whole, engage with a development programme.  At this level, we would be looking at the kinds of connections that exist among communities.  These connections are significant contacts or exchanges that affect the social cohesion or interdependence in an area.  For instance, in Papua New Guinea, some connections indicative of social networks might be bride exchange, trade of material goods, cultural commonalities, church or government structure, or historical enemy relationships.<ref>Rueck 2006:56-61</ref>  In other areas, however, the most important social connections may be different.  These factors can also show us how much language contact groups have had with one another based on how much social contact they have.
 ==Tools==
-* The [[SIL]] language survey team in Papua New Guinea have developed and are trialling a [[Community Connection Tool]] using [[Participatory Methods]]. This is in order to assess how multiplex the social networks of a particular community may be. In addition, the tool is also intended to reveal attitudes to different surrounding communities through the process of evaluating those they feel they have the best connection with. This tool was developed to provide data to inform language project managers about the potential of particular communities to participate in multi-language projects.
+* The [[SIL]] language survey team in Papua New Guinea have developed and are trialling a [[Community Connection Tool]] using [[Participatory Methods]]. This is in order to assess how multiplex the social networks of a particular community may be. In addition, the tool is also intended to reveal attitudes toward different surrounding communities through the process of evaluating those they feel they have the best connection with. This tool was developed to provide data to inform language project managers about the potential of particular communities to participate in multi-language projects.
 * Sociolingustic interviews or questionnaires can also reveal a great deal about social networks. See the [[Questionnaires#Sample_Questionnaires|Questionnaires]] page for an example of a Contact Pattern Questionnaire which would provide data about social networking.