Procedure: Interviews were administered on an individual basis. Subjects were chosen using quotas according to demographic factors relevant to our research questions see section 3.3.2 for additional
subject selection procedures. This tool was administered to speakers of all the Tharu varieties of this survey except Dangaura
1.
The complete interview schedule and responses are in Appendix C. Advantages: Depending on the length of the interview, the time in administration can be minimal,
allowing for relatively large numbers of people to be interviewed. The informal nature of the interviews helps subjects feel comfortable to share openly, while allowing greater depth and providing context for
their responses.
Disadvantages: Informal interviews are limited in that subjects may only report what they want the researcher to hear, or what they believe the researcher would like to hear.
3.2.4 Recorded Story Questions RSQ
Description and purpose: Subjects listen to recorded stories, with questions asked after the stories. This helps in the assessment of the subjects’ perceived understanding of and attitudes toward actual samples
of the language from various areas. It helps the researcher understand if subjects perceive different speech samples as representing their own style of speech.
Procedure: A narrative story is recorded in one location and played for subjects in a second location. The collected story is first tested with at least ten mother-tongue speakers of the variety before administering
the test in other locations. The subjects in the second location are not told where the storyteller is from. After listening to a story, subjects answer questions about their understanding of and opinions toward
the storyteller’s speech. The RSQ, RSQ responses and translated stories are all found in Appendix D.
Advantages: Evaluates perceived understanding of opinions toward actual samples of the language. Disadvantages: Decisions about dialect areas should not be based solely upon these responses and are best
used in conjunction with more complete intelligibility testing.
3.2.5 Participatory Methods PM
This survey used two different participatory methods PM: Dialect Mapping and Appreciative Inquiry. The purpose for using PM is to gain perspective from the community regarding what they see happening
with their language. PM attempt to understand the emic perspectives of the community.
Dialect mapping Description and purpose: This tool creates space for discussion of emic perspectives regarding dialects,
their geographic location and perceived levels of comprehension between varieties. Procedure: Participants are invited to describe their linguistic landscape by identifying other locations
where their language is spoken. They then identify how large they perceive the differences to be between their variety and the others as well as their level of understanding, which variety they use in
conversation with people from other areas and which variety they believe to be the standard or most broadly understood. Two trained Dangaura Tharu speakers facilitated dialect mapping in five locations.
Full steps used for this facilitation are in Appendix E.
1
This is because material development is already in progress in Dangaura and therefore less information was needed from Dangaura speakers than from other varieties in order to fulfill the purpose and goals of this survey.
Advantages: Provides a visual representation of other communities participants interact with, how well they feel they understand those varieties, how their language may or may not be altered in these
circumstances and their attitudes about other varieties.
Disadvantages: May seem complicated or redundant, but each step contributes to a fuller picture of the local perception of the language situation. Emic perspectives do not always match linguistic reality.
Appreciative Inquiry Description and purpose: This tool helps community members dream and discuss the possibilities for their
language and begin planning how they can achieve those dreams. It also shows what the community sees as most important for their language.
Procedure: Participants discuss things in their language or culture that have made them happy or proud. They are then invited to think about how they might build upon these good things they have identified,
or identify dreams they have for their language. Next they discuss what dreams might be accomplished sooner and which ones will take longer. Then they identify which dreams are most important to them.
Finally, participants are asked if they would like to choose a dream they would like to create a plan for and begin deciding on what the first steps should be, who will be involved and when the plan will be put
into action. Like dialect mapping, this was facilitated by two trained Dangaura Tharu speakers. Complete steps of Appreciative Inquiry are in Appendix F.
Advantages: Creates space and opportunity for community discussion of good things that are currently taking place, their goals and dreams and concludes with creating their own plan of action for a goal they
have chosen if they so wish. It is adaptable for various situations.
Disadvantages: It requires facilitators to have strong linguistic and cultural command for effective group facilitation. If not properly framed, the facilitation may raise false hopes of outside assistance in reaching
their goals.
3.3 Subject selection
