Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Tuesday, July 25 - Correcting Spelling Mistakes

First thing in the morning, we checked the four folders where words had been collected a second time because we felt that there were many words missed the first time around. Then we quickly entered these additional words into the database, wrapping up the data entry just before 10 o’clock. Our revised and final word count for the workshop now stands at 13,702.

Once those words were in the database, I exported the data to a document that could be printed. This was in the form of a double-column list of Djimini words and expressions, each with one or more French meanings associated with it. There were 131 pages of data to be printed out.

When we had the printed pages in hand, Justin, Moïse and Bamoussa each took a section of the rough draft of the dictionary and, page by page, began looking for spelling mistakes in either the Djimini or the French, but focusing primarily on the Djimini. As pages were completed, Pastor Lamissa and I edited the database, making the corrections that had been marked on the pages. After working from 11:00 to 5:00 on this task, we found ourselves about halfway through the stack of printed pages.


We then held a brief meeting to decide how we would use the rest of the time that I am planning to be here in Dabakala. They took some pages home with them to continue the correction process, but tomorrow I will show them how to deal with duplicate entries in the database. Then, while they are busy edited the database to eliminate the duplicates, I will work making the corrections that they’ve found and marked overnight. We’ll see how far we get on this by noon tomorrow, then decide together how best to use our time the rest of the day.

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