- Thematic focus
The aim of this blog is to promote the use of Surayt (Turoyo) in different fields of life. This means that we would like to invite all those interested in contributing to the Surayt Blog, no matter what their topic of writing is, as long as it leads to the production of (new) language learning material.
Methodology
We will follow the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) methodology. CLIL is a dual-focused educational approach in which an additional language is used for the learning and teaching of both the content and language (EuroCLIC 1994). This approach will help students to learn the language at the same time as they learn the subject.
Topics
The Blog aims to create a diversity of language learning materials on Surayt. Therefore, we stimulate all contributors to have unique perspectives and approaches in their entries.
- Blog entries can be in any topic, i.e. DNA, going to a dentist, health care, using public transport, technical topics, engineering, nursing, child care, astronomy, social or cultural topics.
- We are also interested in literary contributions, such as poetry, short stories, folklore, fables, fairy tale, satire and so forth.
- Political topics are also welcome, such as EU’s future, UN and minorities. The only restriction is the content of articles should not target or harm any group, race or religion.
- How to submit your post.
All submissions to the Blog should be made electronically, in MS Word (not in PDF format), e-mailed as an attachment to aramaic.online@gmail.com. Please write in the ‘subject’ of your e-mail ‘Blog entry’.
We welcome uploading images that go well with your text. Please send us images as separate attachments and do not insert them in your text. If the image is from the Internet then please send a link as well. Please read the Images section below for important copyright information. A brief author’s biography of no more than three sentences is also required.
If you would like to discuss the topic you would like to write about, you can forward your questions or suggestions to the editorial team on aramaic.online@gmail.com.
- Ethics
Accuracy
Contributors are responsible for the factual accuracy of their work.
Plagiarism
Unattributed use of other people’s work is unacceptable and harmful not only to the author but also to the reputation of the blog. Responsibility for any plagiarism will rest with the author.
Comments
Comments and replies will be moderated. However, feel free to report any offensive or unwarranted behaviour.
Rights
All text published on the Blog will be under a Creative Commons license, whereby work can be quoted or reproduced elsewhere as long as it is properly attributed and linked back to the Blog, and as long as it is not reproduced for commercial use. (For details on CC licensing, see here brief summary and Legal Code.).
- Conventions
Size
Blog posts should be maximum 1000 words in length. In some circumstances larger pieces of up to 1500 words might be considered.
Information to be submitted with your text
- Title of the paper, set in bold.
- Your name directly below the title.
- Two or three keywords.
- After the text, add a short glossary of 10-15 words which are central to your text. Explanations of the words should also be done in Surayt (and in any other language of instruction).
- A caption for your image.
- The source of your image (or video) and any copyright information in brackets.
Images
Contributors are strongly encouraged to provide an illustration that comes with their text. This may be a photograph, a graphic or a cartoon. Pictures can be in gif, png, jpg or jpeg format.
Please note that it is essential that we have permission to publish the image, either through a Creative Commons license or through explicit written permission from the copyright owner. Please provide a link to the source of the image if the image is from the Internet.
Orthography
The orthography for both the Syriac and Latin alphabets that we are working with is the result of several workshops help during the last few years.. One of the aims of our project is the standardization of the writing of Surayt. Please see attached our working document on Orthography where you can find the orthography that we work with and further explanations. We advice all contributors to use this orthography. However, we are also open to contributions written in different orthographies. In order to avoid confusion, it is advised that you mention in an endnote, before you start your text, which Orthography you are using.
References
There are two ways of making references on the blog; through links and endnotes.
Links: In general, if you are referencing from something which exists online, it is preferable to use in-text links. Links should be descriptive. Contributors should double-check the relevance and validity of links before submission.
Endnotes: Please use numbers (not Roman numerals) in superscript placed at the end of a sentence, behind all punctuation marks. This will happen automatically if you use the ‘Insert/Footnote’ function in Word. Please remember to then select ‘Endnote’ and to change the number format (in Options) from Roman numerals – i, ii, iii – to ordinary numbers – 1, 2, 3.
Hints and Tips
Post Title: Catchy titles are great, but make sure that they indicate what the post is about. Try to keep post titles short.
Opening paragraph: A good way to start your text is to engage with your topic immediately, preferably making clear from the opening sentence what you will be talking about.
Style: As you know, writing for a blog is not the same as writing an academic essay. Above all, your writing should aim to be clear, concise, compelling, direct and accessible to a broad group of learners . The use of short sentences is encouraged above the use of longer ones.
Content: Opinion and commentary is welcome.
Disclaimer
The views expressed on this blog are attributable to their individual authors writing in their personal capacity only, and not to any other author, the editors, or any other person, organization or institution with which the author might be affiliated unless explicitly stated so.
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Please remember that these guidelines are intended to give the blog some consistency; they are not meant to suppress your individual voice. For further questions please contact us on aramaic.online@gmail.com.