This article introduces a prototype of a writing (and learning) assistant for verbal relative clauses of the African language Sepedi, accessible from within a dictionary or from a word processor. It ...is an example of how a user support tool for complicated grammatical structures in a scarcely resourced language can be compiled. We describe a dynamic light-weight tool aimed at combining user-knowledge with text production support, i.e., user-involved interactive text production of the complicated verbal relative in Sepedi. In this article, the focus is on access in a dictionary use situation. Although the tool is intended as a writing assistant to support users in text production; it also satisfies text reception and cognitive needs, but its focus is on solving text production issues related with the interaction between lexical items and complex grammatical structures in the African (Bantu) languages and for learning by users and/or training users in this interaction.Direkte gebruiksleiding in e-woordeboeke vir teksproduksie en teksresepsie - die werkwoordrelatief in Sepedi as gevallestudie.Hierdie artikel stel 'n prototipe van 'n skryf- en (leer)hulpmiddel bekend vir werkwoordrelatiewe konstruksies in die Afrikataal Sepedi, wat vanuit 'n woordeboek of 'n woordverwerker toeganklik is. Dit dien as voorbeeld van hoe 'n gebruikershulpmiddel vir ingewikkelde grammatikale strukture in 'n hulpbronbeperkte taal saamgestel kan word. Ons beskryf 'n dinamiese liggewig hulpmiddel wat gemik is op die kombinering van gebruikerskennis met teksproduksie-ondersteuning, dit wil sê, gebruikersbetrokkenheid by interaktiewe teksproduksie van die ingewikkelde werkwoordrelatiewe in Sepedi. In hierdie artikel is die fokus op toegang tydens 'n woordeboekgebruiksituasie. Hoewel die werktuig bedoel is as 'n skryfhulpmiddel om gebruikers in die produksie van teks te ondersteun, voldoen dit ook aan teksresepsie- en kognitiewe behoeftes. Die fokus is egter op die oplossing van teksproduksiekwessies wat verband hou met die interaksie tussen leksikale items en komplekse grammatikale strukture in die Afrikatale asook op die aanleer van taal deur gebruikers en/of die opleiding van gebruikers in hierdie interaksie.
A detailed user study and observations by lecturers indicate that the correct compilation of sentences in the eight verbal moods as well as for a number of similar grammatically complicated ...constructions in Sepedi poses a challenge in any text production situation. Feedback from target users indicated that there is a need for a computational writing assistant for the compilation and verification of correct constructions. To address this need, an extended computational sentence builder for verbal moods, adjectives and possessive constructions in Sepedi was designed and built to assist in text production and to serve as a model for other African languages. This article introduces a prototype of such an extended computational sentence builder for verbal moods, adjectives and possessive constructions in Sepedi. The emphasis throughout is on the grammatical complexity of Sepedi and how the Sepedi Helper can assist users to produce correct sentences. In contrast to typical traditional grammars of Sepedi, the tool also provides the required cognitive information through basic clickable help screens. The Sepedi Helper is a dynamic lightweight tool aimed at combining user knowledge with a text production tool, i.e. user-involved, step-by-step production of Sepedi phrases. The emphasis in the design is on simplicity.
Summary Methods A retrospective case-note study of immediate breast reconstruction using the pedicled latissimus dorsi flap with a silicone implant and a patient-satisfaction survey were carried out. ...Results Fifty-four reconstructions were performed in 52 patients between March 2001 and October 2006. Major complications included capsular contracture requiring capsulotomy (7.4%); minor complications included donor-site seroma (20.4%) and superficial wound problems (13%). The average score out of 10 for the appearance of the reconstructed breast whilst wearing a bra was 8.35; score for appearance whilst out of a bra was 7.0 and overall symmetry was 6.6. On the basis of the scores, 16 patients were grouped as excellent; 15 as good; seven as fair and two as poor. Significantly, more of the patients without a contralateral matching procedure graded their reconstruction as good or excellent (p = 0.024). Conclusions The pedicled latissimus dorsi flap with a silicone implant gives the majority of patients a satisfying reconstruction, without necessarily requiring a contralateral matching procedure, whilst minimising postoperative complications.
Abstract
As for many e-dictionaries across the globe, e-dictionaries for African languages embarked on the unfortunate route of being ‘paper dictionaries on computer’ often simply enhanced with ...additional search features or simply by perpetuating the practice followed in paper dictionaries of compiling e-dictionaries which are just translated word lists. In this article it will be argued that e-dictionaries for African languages should firstly be compiled through maximum utilization of ‘true electronic’ features enabled by the computer era. Secondly, specific attention should be given to the salient features of the Bantu language family, taking Sepedi (Northern Sotho) as a case in point. Thirdly attention is given to the issue of dictionary survival in the information era and how innovative e-support systems can contribute to ensure that future dictionaries will remain the preferred point of departure for users for information retrieval.
In the Amazon Kindle e-books, readers are automatically directed to a linked e-dictionary which enables the reader to obtain the meaning of the word without having to leave the book being read - the ...first three lines of the dictionary article are presented to the reader on the same screen as the open book. If this information is not sufficient to enable the reader to obtain the correct information to satisfy his/her information need, (s)he can follow a link to the full dictionary article. This is an excellent feature to help readers obtain relevant information in a text reception situation. It works perfectly in most cases. However, unfortunately there are many cases where the reader is not presented with relevant information or even presented with incorrect information, based on incorrect part of speech identification, linking to the incorrect lemma or a number of other categories of incorrect linking which are discussed in the article. Following a categorisation of such problems, we provide a number of suggestions for possible solutions to the problem. The solutions include the provision of tagged corpora, on-the-fly tagging, a menu of items to enable the reader to disambiguate between various options, etc. Each of these options is discussed in terms of what the option entails, technical issues involved in the specific option and the feasibility of the option. The article concludes that not one option will necessarily resolve all problems and that a multi-pronged approach may be necessary to optimise the automated linking of words in the Kindle e-books to the e-dictionaries that are provided.
Various studies have shown that the relationship between waist circumference (WC) and abdominal obesity is age, gender as well as ethnicity-dependent. WC criteria for Sub Saharan Africans have not ...been defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The aim was to determine which WC cut off best predicted Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in a group of urban African teachers (80 males and 93 females). We determined sphygmomanometer blood pressure, WC, glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HdL) and triglyceride (TRIG) values. The males' MetS profile was less favourable as their glucose, TRIG and blood pressure levels were higher than the proposed cut off for MetS. The females could be classified as obese, based on their mean BMI (32.78±6.36) and WC (93.48±15.68). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) WC cut offs of 90, 91, 94 and 96 cm for the respective MetS components in males (blood pressure, HdL, glucose and TRIG) were suggested. In the females, cut offs of 92, 98, 94 and 94 cm for TRIG, blood pressure, HdL and glucose respectively, were put forward. Odds ratios revealed that increased blood pressure best predicted ROC WC in both males (OR 9.59; 95% CI 3.14-29.32) and females (OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.30-7.42) irrespective of age. We suggest that the optimal cut off point for the males be set at 90 cm, as opposed to the current 94 cm; whilst the female cut off be set at 98 cm as opposed to the existing cut off of 80 cm. Larger sample groups are recommended to justify our data.
Electronic dictionaries should support dictionary users by giving them guidance in text production and text reception, alongside a user-definable offer of lexicographic data for cognitive purposes. ...In this article, we sketch the principles of an interactive and dynamic electronic dictionary aimed at text production and text reception guiding users in innovative ways, especially with respect to difficult, complicated or confusing issues. The lexicographer has to do a very careful analysis of the nature of the possible problems to suggest an optimal solution for a specific problem. We are of the opinion that there are numerous complex situations where users need more detailed support than currently available in e-dictionaries, enabling them to make valid and correct choices. For highly complex situations, we suggest guidance through a decision tree-like device. We assume that the solutions proposed here are not specific to one language only but can, after careful analysis, be applied to e-dictionaries in different languages across the world. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
A Critical Examination of Dictionaries with Amalgamated Lemmalists. The recently published Groot Woordeboek (Afrikaans en Nederlands), also known as ANNA, is the first dictionary with an amalgamated ...lemmalist based on the model of Martin and Gouws (2000). ANNA also paves the way for a similar approach for other closely related languages such as the Sotho languages and the Nguni languages of South Africa. The advantages and disadvantages of five aspects namely (a) comparison and contrast, (b) user-friendliness, (c) space saving, (d) ordering of senses and (e) provision of a separate grammatical compendium are critically evaluated. The principles of amalgamation, the relevant lemma types, as well as certain characteristics of the model are briefly discussed beforehand. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
This article evaluates the lexicographic value of multilingual dictionaries. Dictionaries covering three or more languages spoken in South Africa are taken as a case in point. An attempt will be made ...to reflect on their merits and shortcomings as reference works and learning tools but the focus will be on presumed shortcomings in the macro and micro structures of such dictionaries with special attention to the lemmatisation of common words, quality of the dictionary articles and consistency in presentation. 'n Kritiese evaluering van veeltalige woordeboeke. In hierdie artikel word die leksikografiese waarde van veeltalige woordeboeke geëvalueer. Woordeboeke wat drie of meer tale wat in Suid-Afrika gepraat word leksikografies bewerk, dien as voorbeeld. Daar sal gepoog word om hulle sterk punte en tekortkominge as naslaanbronne en aanleerhulpmiddels te omskryf. Klem sal gelê word op veronderstelde tekortkominge in die makro- en mikrostrukture van sulke woordeboeke met spesifieke verwysing na die lemmatisering van algemeen gebruikte woorde, kwaliteit van die woordeboekartikels en konsekwentheid in die aanbieding.
This article focuses on lesser-resourced languages for which only very limited corpora are available and how such relatively small and often unbalanced, raw corpora could be maximally utilized for ...lexicographic purposes to obtain similar results as for bigger corpora. Sepedi and Afrikaans will be studied in this regard. The aim is to determine to what extent enlarging a corpus from e.g. one to 10 million, and from 10 million to 100 million words enhances its potential for (a) macro-structure compilation, (b) sourcing information on the most important microstructural aspects and (c) the creation of lexicographic tools. It will be argued that valuable and even sufficient data for the compilation of a specific dictionary can be extracted from a relatively small corpus of approximately one million words but that "bigger" in some instances indeed means "better". Korpusgebaseerde leksikografie vir hulpbronbeperkte tale - die maksimalisering van die beperkte korpus. Die fokus in hierdie artikel is op hulpbronbeperkte tale waarvoor slegs baie beperkte korpusse beskikbaar is en hoe sodanige relatief klein en dikwels ongebalanseerde, rou korpusse maksimaal benut kan word vir leksikografiese doeleindes om soortgelyke resultate as van groter korpusse te verkry. Sepedi en Afrikaans, word in hierdie verband bestudeer. Die doel is om te bepaal tot watter mate die vergroting van 'n korpus van byvoorbeeld een na 10 miljoen, en van 10 miljoen na 100 miljoen woorde die potensiaal sal verhoog vir (a) makrostruktuur samestelling, (b) die inwin van inligting omtrent die belangrikste mikrostrukturele aspekte en (c) die ontwerp van leksikografiese hulpmiddels. Daar sal aangevoer word dat waardevolle en selfs voldoende data vir die samestelling van 'n spesifieke woordeboek onttrek kan word uit 'n relatief klein korpus van ongeveer een miljoen woorde maar dat "groter" wel in sekere omstandighede "beter" is.
PDF
