1. STANAG for Non-Specialists
Study Group 5
STANAG for Non-Specialists

2. Task Simplify the STANAG 6001.4 document for administrative purposes
Outline salient aspects in non-technical terms
Produce a draft document
Can-do and cannot do statements

3. Our Process Began with Speaking descriptions for 1+ and L2
Identified features according to categories
Color-coded features according to categories
Introductory statement
Task
Content
Accuracy

5. Our Process (continued)
Reduced four categories to two categories
Task/content (what the speaker can do)
Accuracy (how well the speaker can do this)
Focused on base levels 1-3 only at this time
Selected salient points and identified examples
Removed what is not relevant for non-specialists

6. Guiding Principles
Rephrase and reword as long as meaning is maintained
Make language transparent for non-language specialists
Align similar features across levels

7. Current and Proposed (L2)
Able to communicate in everyday social and routine workplace situations. In these situations the speaker can describe people, places, and things; narrate current, past, and future activities in complete, but simple paragraphs; state facts; compare and contrast; give straightforward instructions and directions; ask and answer predictable questions. Can confidently handle most normal, casual conversations on concrete topics such as job procedures, family, personal background and interests, travel, current events. Can often elaborate in common daily communicative situations, such as personal and accommodation-related interactions; for example, can give complicated, detailed, and extensive directions and make non-routine changes in travel and other arrangements. Can interact with native speakers not used to speaking with non-natives, although natives may have to adjust to some limitations. Can combine and link sentences into paragraph-length discourse. Simple structures and basic grammatical relations are typically controlled, while more complex structures are used inaccurately or avoided. Vocabulary use is appropriate for high-frequency utterances but unusual or imprecise at other times. Errors in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar may sometimes distort meaning. However, the individual generally speaks in a way that is appropriate to the situation, although command of the spoken language is not always firm.
What the L2 speaker can do
Communicate in everyday social and workplace situations about topics such as job procedures, family, personal background and interests, current events
Describe people, places, and things; compare and contrast
Talk about current, past, and future activities
State facts, give instructions and directions
How well the L2 speaker can do this
Combine sentences into simple, organized paragraphs
Use basic grammar, most common words and expressions even though there may still be errors
Can be generally understood by native speakers

9. Recommendations
Secure buy-in on the methodology, content, and presentation
BILC Working group to continue the initiative
Address all levels and plus levels
Address other skills
Used in conjunction with the full STANAG
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