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Analyzing Multilingual Primary Sources

Topaz Times. (Topaz, UT), Feb. 6, 1943. From the Japanese-American Internment Camp Newspapers, 1942-1946, Collection, Library of Congress.

About this Lesson Plan

Discipline(s)

Education

Time Needed

One class period

Original Course

TLS 795A: Theory and Research in Language, Reading and Culture

Lesson Plan Created By

Dr. Leah Durán, College of Education, University of Arizona, and Leslie Sult, University of Arizona Libraries

Created in

Spring 2022 as part of a Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant

Overview

Students select a historical example (older than the past 20 years) of a text that includes more than one language, and conduct research to analyze and contextualize the text.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Search for primary sources that were produced in more than one language.
  • Analyze a selected primary source using Library of Congress tools.
  • Contextualize selected primary sources.

Before class preparation/set up

Print worksheets

Search the Library of Congress website to identify collections that contain multilingual resources. 

Activities

Demonstration

Distribute Worksheet and work through steps

Discussion of Students' Sources

What to consider when examining bilingual primary sources: 

  • When and where was this text produced?
  • Who published it
  • Who are the authors?
  • Who are its intended readers?
  • What language(s), variety(ies), or dialect(s) are used in the text?
  • What modalities are used?
  • How is language(s) organized in the text?  
  • How does this organization influence the reader’s experience reading experience?  
  • Is there a phonetic representation of the language?
  • Are there direct/literal translations?
  • Is repetition present in the texts? If so, in what forms? 

Assignment

Students will select a historical (older than the past 20 years) example of a text that includes more than one language, and through research, analyze and contextualize its production. Students will write a 4-5 page analysis of their selected text.

Students will use the questions from the discussion above to guide their analysis.