Using patterned oral paraphrase

Patterned oral paraphrase (POP) is a useful technique for translating or paraphrasing an illustrated text. It has been especially useful in producing texts for shell books.

POP is done with one person presenting the original text and eliciting a natural translation or paraphrase from one or a group of local language speakers. These speakers become the authors of the new text.

This module is written for the presenter.

Here are some benefits of using POP:

• It helps local language speakers and writers to avoid making very literal translations of texts.
• It encourages the naturalness of texts that are translated, retold, or paraphrased.

Here are the materials required for using POP:

• Illustrations for a story or topic.

  Tip:	Use large illustrations if you are working with a group.

• Text for the story or topic in a language of wider communication (LWC)

Here are some guidelines to follow when you use patterned oral paraphrase:

• Be very familiar with the original LWC text so that you can tell it or talk about it accurately.
• When the new text must very accurately follow the original one, spend extra time in Step 6 discussing any difficult or unknown concepts. You might have several local language speakers discuss how to express those concepts or objects in their mother tongue.

1. Tell the story or talk about the topic in the LWC as you point at the appropriate illustrations .

   Tip:	Show the illustrations one at a time so that the local language author focuses on the details of each illustration.

2. Repeat Step 1, emphasizing significant points by explicitly pointing out important details in the illustrations. Repeat this step as often as necessary.
3. Have the local language author retell the story or discuss the topic in the LWC while pointing to the appropriate illustrations.

   Tip:	At this point, display all the illustrations at once, in their proper sequence, to remind the author of the entire story.

4. Talk about the retelling of the story in Step 3 and correct any significant inaccuracies or misunderstandings.
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4, having the author retell the story or discussion in the local language .
6. When the retelling is satisfactory, have the author write it in the local language.
7. Have the local language author and other local language speakers edit the text and check it for naturalness.

• Task module: Using patterned oral paraphrase
• In task module: Producing literature using shell books
• In task module: Designing printed materials
• In task module: Producing printed materials, by Anne Klaassens (contributor), Robin Rempel (contributor), Trudy K. Stewart (general editor, contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), Diane Wroge (contributor), and Adelle R. Walter (illustrator)
• In task module: Developing instructional materials, by Trudy K. Stewart, Leah B. Walter (contributor), and Trudi C. Hunt (contributor)
• In task module: Developing an instructional program, by Kenneth A. Boothe (contributor), Patricia M. Davis (contributor), Trudy K. Stewart (general editor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), and Adelle R. Walter (illustrator)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 2 July 1998

© 1999 SIL International