[nobe-l] Tactle graphics and other questions related to linguistics and TESL courses

[Miranda B.]

Hi everyone,

I am a college student currently in an Introduction to Linguistics course.
As I gather information about the best resources for successfully completing
this and subsequent related courses, I am trying to think of a specific tool
with which you may be familiar. This is a kit that allows someone to
hand-draw tactle diagrams, shapes, ETC. It includes a pencil-type tool with
a ridged wheel on one end and a point on the other end, swell-thermal-form
paper, and a rubber mat. The rubber mat and paper are 8.5" x 11" in size.

As I'm thinking this kit may be beneificial for my professors to produce
tree diagrams for me, could someone please point me in the right direction
to obtain this kit?

On a related note, do any of you happen to know if Microsoft Excel would
accurately produce said tree diagrams used in grammar, linguistics, and
related courses?

Lastly, do you know of email discussion lists for related linguistics and
TESL (teaching English as a second language) discussion for those of us with
visual impairments?

Thanks for your time and assistance, and have a wonderful weekend!

 

--Miranda