IS 289: Multilingual Information Resources

(Information Resources in Languages Other Than English)

WINTER 2009

Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., GSE&IS 245

 

General

Course Outline

Student Presentations

Resources

National Bibliographies

 

Instructor:

Dr. Clara M. Chu, cchu@ucla.edu, (310) 206-9368

Office Hours:       Thursdays, 9 am-noon, some Tuesdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m.,

and other times by appointment, GSE&IS 210.  A sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin outside my office door.

 

 

Purpose of course:

At the end of the course, students will have:

   1.          familiarity with the range of information resources in languages other than English and of language learning resources (print and online),

2.              a basic knowledge of language families, scripts and alphabets, and transliteration schemes, and to apply this knowledge in accessing and organizing multilingual information,

3.              an understanding of national, cultural, and linguistic differences in approach to the production, acquisition, organization and access of information,

4.              the knowledge of how to provide access to multilingual resources using computer technology,

5.              exposure to the diversity of sources to acquire selected language materials, and

6.              familiarity with selected multilingual library collections and cultural centers that offer language instruction.

 

 

Scope of course:

Access and development of information resources in languages other than English.  The course deals with the methods to provide access to multilingual information resources and to overcome linguistic and national barriers in acquisition and organizing of multilingual materials.  Issues dealing with other aspects of collection development, cataloging and reference services will not covered.  It is possible to delve deeper into the issues discussed or excluded in this course through individual study or research.

 

 

Assignments:

Assignments are due on dates and times as specified.  Late assignments may be accepted if prior arrangements are made with the instructor and will be penalized by a letter grade. All assignments should be typed and double-spaced.

 

 

Evaluation/Grading:

Class presentations                                               30%

Final assignment                                                     50%

Class participation                                                  20%

 

Instructional Method:

This class will actively engage the students in learning about multilingual information resources and issues.  It uses a learning-by-doing approach which incorporates a mixture of lectures by the instructor and experts, discussion, in-class exercises, field trips, and student presentations.  Students will be expected to contribute to class discussions on a regular basis.

 

Resource Materials and Reserves:

»          Reserve materials may be placed in the MIT Lab/Library or made available online.

»          Course website: http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/chu/289

»          Course blog: http://portavoz.wordpress.com/

 

 

CLASS PRESENTIONS

 

Each student will sign up to do two presentations on an aspect of the topic(s) of the chosen (*) week. Each student will post the resources/materials examined or presented on the class blog by the day of the presentation.  Each presentation will be 15 minutes.

 

ASSIGNMENTS

 

FINAL ASSIGNMENT (Due: March 10th)

 

Develop a multilingual information resource, such as a non-English or bi-lingual web resource, a resource guide to learn a target language (TL), a bi-lingual glossary, etc.  Alternatively, a student may choose to write a 15-20-paged paper on multilingual information resources and/or practice.  Please obtain approval on your final assignment before proceeding.  Some examples of potential projects are below:

 

a. Glossary

 

Develop a bi-lingual glossary of LIS,  archival or museum terminology.  LIS terms are available from the instructor and may be augmented by the student.  It should include terms that will be used in signage, communication, etc.

 

1.        Select a target language (approved by instructor) and translate the terminology into the target language.

2.        Convert the bilingual list into an electronic file.

3.        Write a brief report (3-5 pages, double-spaced) describing the development process, any challenges, and the electronic tools/software to create your glossary in the target language.

4.        Submit both print and electronic copies of the bilingual LIS glossary along with a print copy of the brief report.

 

b. Targeted Language Information Resources Website

 

Choose a target language (TL).  Create a website that serves as a guide/pathfinder for librarians and users who wish to access information in that language in a library or information center.  Target language and type of library or information center to be approved by instructor.  Types of information to include:

 

Target Language (TL): background and country(ies) where spoken, say “hello” in language

LIS terminology in TL

Library Forms in TL (e.g., application for library card)

How to find materials in TL

Reference Materials

Periodicals and other media sources

ESL and TL Learning Resources

Translation Resources

E-mail and Web Use in TL

 

 

IS 289: Multilingual Information Resources

(Information Resources in Languages Other Than English)

Course Outline - Winter 2009, C. Chu

 

1. Jan 6 Introduction to the course.  Languages and Language Identification. 

Resources:

»          Language Families http://www.krysstal.com/langfams.html

»          Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.  Language Families and Languages.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_families_and_languages

»          Language http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjenbolhuis/language-family-trees/

»          Boeree, C. George.  Language Families of the World http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/languagefamilies.html

»          Ancientscripts.com.  Language Families http://www.ancientscripts.com/hl_families.html

»          Ethnologue http://www.ethnologue.com/   Ethnologue Language Family Index http://www.ethnologue.com/family_index.asp

»          Reese, Brian. The Challenge of East Asian Writing Systems. http://www.globalz.com/info.aspx?PageID=30

»          Videos: search “Languages of the World”, “Germanic Language Family”

»          Arguelles, Alexander.  Videos and audios introducing languages. http://www.foreignlanguageexpertise.com/audio_videos.html

»          Language. http://www.uefap.com/vocab/exercise/awl/language.htm  »  Language Families - matching exercise. http://www.llas.ac.uk/materialsbank/mb044/LangFamExDD.htm

 

*2. Jan 13              International Publishing.  National Bibliographies.  Newspapers and Online News Media (e.g., BBC, Google News).

Class presentations:

Report on a national bibliography or non-English language newspapers.

Required readings:

»          Beaudiquez, Marcelle.  The Perpetuation of the National Bibliographies in the New Virtual Information Environment.  Proceedings of the 69th IFLA Council and General Conference, 1st-9th August, 2003; Berlin.  http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla69/papers/142e_trans-Beaudiquez.pdf

»          Knutsen, Unni.  Electronic National Bibliographies: A State of the Art Review.  Proceedings of the 69th IFLA Council and General Conference, 1st-9th August, 2003; Berlin.  http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla69/papers/109e-Knutsen.pdf

»          Andresoo, Janne.  “The National Bibliography Concept in a Changing Information Environment,” Proceedings of the 67th IFLA Council and General Conference; August 16-25, 2001; Boston.  http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla67/papers/047-199e.pdf

 

Resources: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook (annual) http://www.uis.unesco.org/ev.php?URL_ID=2867&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201  (also available in print) >>> Culture and Communication Statistics: http://www.uis.unesco.org/ev.php?URL_ID=5208&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201

 

3. Jan 20                International Language Collections in an Academic Library: An East Asian Languages Collection and Romanization.

                                    Fieldtrip: Amy Tsiang and staff, Richard C. Rudolph East Asian Library, UCLA http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/EastAsian/.  Meet inside library, located on the mezzanie level of the Young Research Library, room 21617.

 

Resources:

»          East Asia Library, Yale University.  East Asian Languages Romanization. http://www.library.yale.edu/eastasian/romanization.html  East Asian Languages in Orbis. http://www.library.yale.edu/eastasian/guide_languages.html

»          University of Delaware Libraries Subject Guides. Internet Resources for Asian Languages and Literatures. http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/lano/internet.htm

 

4. Jan 27                International Language and Literature Collections in a Public Library. 

Fieldtrip: Gloria Glover, Senior Librarian, International Languages Dept., LAPL, guided by Sylva Manoogian, Doctoral Student UCLA IS and Retired Regional Manager, LAPL http://www.lapl.org/central/international.html

 

Required reading:

Gretchen Hack, Michelle Lerman, Lou Petterchak, and Josie Teodosijeva.  Library Services to Multilingual Populations.  http://www.cde.state.co.us/c-tag/download/pdf/ircreport.pdf

 

*5. Feb 3                Reference Materials: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias.  Language Learning Resources: General and Library Staff.  The Internet: Multilingual Access.

                                    Guest Speaker: Willy Frixione, The Language Solution http://www.thelanguagesolution.com/

 

Class presentations:

»          Review dictionaries and encyclopedias (general and specialized) diverse formats in another language AND bi/multi-lingual dictionaries – Review at least four works and note any similarities and differences in format (online vs. print) and between types of reference sources.

Required readings:

»          Huang, Shihong and Tilley, Scott.  “Issues of Content and Structure for a Multilingual Web Site,” SIGDOC ’01, October 21-24, 2001, Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Available at http://portal.acm.org/ 

»          Chu, Clara M. and Honma, Todd S.  “Multicultural Literacy”  http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/21stcent/cultural.html see section on Reference Tools

 

Resources:

»          WebJunction - Immigrants and World Languages http://www.webjunction.org/immigrants-and-world-languages

»          WebJunction - Spanish Speakers http://www.webjunction.org/spanish

»          WebJunction - Tribal and First Nation Communities http://www.webjunction.org/tribal-and-first-nations

»          John Glascock, World Language Resources http://www.worldlanguage.com/ and Steve Peng, Multilingual Web Consultant

 

6. Feb 10                International Language Vendors, Distributors: African Languages and Materials.

Guest Speaker: Ruby A. Bell-Gam, Librarian for African Studies & International Development Studies, UCLA  rbellgam@library.ucla.edu  Phone: 310-825-1518

 

Example of Resource: Researching Africa: Problems, Initiatives, Resources http://www.bu.edu/library/instruction/researchingafrica.html

 

7. Feb 17                Transliteration.  Slavic Materials.  Bookstores: Local and Online.

                                    Guest Speaker: Liladhar Pendse, Librarian for Slavic, Eurasian, Eastern European, and Pan-Asian and South Asian Studies, UCLA and PhD Student, UCLA IS

 

Required readings:

»          Barry, Randall K. (ed.)  ALA-LC Romanization Tables: Transliteration Schemes for Non-Roman Scripts.  Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress, 1997.  [YRL Ref. P226.A4 1997].  Available online http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/roman.html

»          “Chapter 8: Romanization,” http://www.archivists.org/catalog/stds99/chapter8.html In: Standards for Archival Description: A Handbook, by Compiled by Victoria Irons Walch for the Working Group on Standards for Archival Description with contributions by Marion Matters.  The Society of American Archivists, 1994.

»          Clews, John.  “Digital Language Access: Scripts, Transliteration, and Computer Access,” D-Lib Magazine, March 1997. http://www.dlib.org/dlib/march97/sesame/03clews.html

»          Transliteration schemes used by European Libraries and Name Authority Issues http://alcyone.cc.uch.gr/~kosmas/Helen/helen_schemes.html

»          United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN).  Working Group on Romanization Systems. http://www.eki.ee/wgrs/

Resources:

»          Introduction to Slavic Information Resources.  http://gateway.library.uiuc.edu/spx/class/tocbrief.htm

»          Princeton University Library’s Cataloging Documentation.  Slavic Cataloging Manual.  http://infoshare1.princeton.edu:/katmandu/sgman/smtocs.html

 

*8. Feb 24              Multilingual Web 2.0 (e.g., Library 2.0, Social Networking, Search Engines). Multilingual Library Services and Computer Literacy.

Class presentations:

Present findings/resources on selected topic.

 

*9. Mar 3                Book Fairs, Bibliographer Associations and Resources.  Cultural Centers as Language

Panel (9:00-10:00 am): Jade Alburo, Librarian for Anthropology, Archaeology, Religion and Southeast Asian Studies, UCLA; Eudora Loh, Librarian for Latin American Studies and Spanish/Portuguese, UCLA; Orchid Mazurkiewicz, Director and Editor, Hispanic American Periodicals Index (HAPI), UCLA Latin American Center.

 

Class presentations:

Describe selected cultural center and its language resources.

Required readings:

»          Library Services to the Spanish-Speaking Committee, Reference Services Section of the Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association.  “Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Multilingual Collections and Services,” Reference & User Services Quarterly, 47(2): 198-200, 2007.

»          Gamache, Pierre; Martin, Libby; and Nowosielski, Maryna.  Multilingual/Multicultural Collections and Services: A Draft Proposal.  Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada, September 19, 2001; 12 p. [Document # EC 01:29]

 

10. Mar 10             Student Presentations.

Due: Final assignment