Thanks to everyone who has sent me ones for SD (and before, ones for SG). You
are creative and inventive! This field is the best.
As a thank you, I want to share some general points about translation devices,
so you don’t have to wait until the book is complete. If yours isn’t quite the
same as what I’m saying here, that’s probably because this knowledge used to be
shared in my extensive teaching while travelling. I’ve not been travelling for
the past five years for various reasons. The book should cover that in future
but it’s not finished yet.
Above all, my key point is that a translation device should be able to be used
by someone else to analyse your data or their comparable data. It’s a tool.
It’s not a summary table. It should be easily used by others. How to ensure
that?
(1) The table should have as columns:
1. a continuum of the principle (to remind people it’s a continuum!)
2. the categories of strengths (SG+, SG–, etc)
3. indicators: this is what I’ll discuss below as the issue most needing our
collective efforts
4. examples from the data - without these, it is not a translation device.
If the forum can handle attachments, then check out the attached for examples.
(2) Make sure ‘indicators’ are simple, clear and unambiguous. Avoid all words
that involve criteria that themselves require indicators or which beg the
question. For example, if you are using SD and your indicators include words
like ‘sophisticated’, ‘simple’, ‘rich’, ‘straightforward’, ‘nuanced’ ‘complex’,
etc etc, you are not helping others analyse your data. Words like that have
their own criteria that also need to be explained. What makes something
‘sophisticated’ or ‘straightforward’ or ‘rich’ or ‘complex’? People will either
not be able to use it (because you’ve simply brought back in the very words
that ‘semantic density’ is meant to clarify) or will analyse the data
differently and not be convinced by your analysis. It will have very low
reliability.
(2) Be specific in your “indicators”. If it’s ‘one or more’ or ‘more than two’,
say so clearly. Avoid vague words like ‘numerous’ or ‘many’ or ‘some’ or
‘several’. Be as clear as you can be. Help the reader.
(3) It helps if indicators are written in an active voice and simple language.
e.g. ‘Teacher describes a specific step or movements in a specific exercise as
they appear in the ‘here and now’ of a lesson’
or
e.g. ‘Student describes a physical principle, law, concept or theory, without
reference to a specific situation.’
Don’t write short phrases full of nominalisations. Indicators are meant to help
people analyse data. Remember: you want someone else to be able to use the
indicators as a guide to analysis.
That list is NOT a criticism of anyone. I don’t think it’s been clear enough
what a translation device involves. We’re all learning all the time, myself
included.
I hope that’s helpful.
KM
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