Creating a Dynamic Grammar of Ancient Greek An on-going research - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Creating a Dynamic Grammar of Ancient Greek An on-going research project at the Catholic University of Leuven (Prof. dr. Toon Van Hal, Yannick Anné)

Linguistic background Functional Linguistics and the limitations of printed grammars

Ancient Greek teaching in Flanders • Taal- en letterkunde = “Linguistics and Literature” • Ancient Greek and Latin = two modules, on the same level as modern languages • ≠ earlier system (cf. Germany’s Altphilologie , Anglo-Saxon Classics etc.)

Model of choice: Functional Linguistics • Simon Dik, The Theory of Functional Grammar (Berlin: Mouton De Gruyter 1997). • Functional levels: Pragmatic functions 1. Syntactic functions 2. Semantic functions 3.

Limitations of conventional grammars (1) Grammar A Grammar C Grammar B Dative [MO] Satellites [SY] Cause [SE] 1. 1. Satellites [SY] 1. Cause [SE] Dative [MO] Cause [SE] Dative [MO] Satellites [SY] 1. 1. 1. Means 2. διά + acc. διά + acc. 2. 2. … … 3. 3. … 3. Most classical languages (receptive, not active)

Limitations of conventional grammars (2) • Denial of complexity • Lack of dynamicity • Bound to a specific level of knowledge

Limitations of conventional grammars (3) • Solution: DYNAMIC STRUCTURE based upon TAGS Form tags (morphology) 1. Content tags (semantics, pragmatics) 2. Hierarchy tags (syntax, pragmatics) 3. Level tags (study level) 4. • Navigation through faceted search • Each tag gets an own page (definition, background)

Macro-structure ἵνα + subjunctive: Goal as a satellite satellite ἵνα subjunctive Goal

Micro-structure The structure of a prototypical paragraph

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph Succinct example

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph Level tag

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph Grammatical tags

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph Grammatical rule

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph Supplementary information

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph Supplementary information

Micro-structure: a typical paragraph Example sentences

Micro-structure: metadata (1: rules) • Unique identifier • Bibliography – main sources: o Crespo, E. etc. Sintaxis del griego clásico (2003) o Rijksbaron, A. The syntax and semantics of the verb in Classical Greek (2006³) o “Traditional” grammars: Smyth, Goodwin… o Etc.

Micro-structure: metadata (2: examples) • Unique identifiers for: Linking to more than one grammatical rule 1. Usage as exercises (with link to grammatical rule) 2. • Automatic link to Perseus database http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg005.perseus-grc1:383a = Plat. Crat. 383a = Plato, Kratylos 383a • Possibility for extra links to metadata (e.g. Perseus Catalog ; Trismegistos ; Wikidata )

Macro-structure Dynamicity from database to website

Technological background Filemaker Pro database (also Importer tool Drupal interface including morphology)

Technological background: Filemaker • Relational database: o Allows links between rules, tags, and examples o Avoids typing mistakes o Allows for exports to Drupal & Word

Technological background: importer (1) Step 1: separate importers Step 2: matching Filemaker for rules, tags, examples, to Drupal fields and bibliography

Technological background: importer (2) Step 3: importing into the Step 4: importing the .csv Drupal environment file (converted from .fp7)

Technological background: Drupal • Drupal taxonomies = our tags • Custom-made faceted search tool (Hans Coppens) • Adaptive user interface, optimized for touchscreens

Dynamicity in practice Demonstration of faceted search

Faceted search (step 1) 4 types of filters: 1. Form 2. Content 3. Hierarchy 4. Level

Faceted search (step 2) Selection of the first tag.

Faceted search (step 3) Selection of a second, third, fourth etc. tag.

Implementation in classroom learning

Implementation: blended learning • Blended learning : o Classroom learning o Self-study at home • 3 aspects: READING grammar (< form & hierarchy tags) 1. LEARNING grammar (< level tags) 2. REFERENCE grammar (< content & hierarchy tags) 3.

Implementation: exercises (1) • Exercises and assessment: o Not in Drupal, but linked to Toledo/Blackboard platform o Edumatic software (by Televic Education ) o Types: drop-down, fill in the gap…

Implementation: exercises (2)

Implementation: exercises (3)

Future prospects

Future prospects • 2-year project, ending in October 2015 • Availability for information exchange ( Creative Commons ) • Adaptations (e.g. a version specifically for history students) are possible thanks to the dynamic structure

Thank you for your attention.