4.6 Guidelines for creating free-form prompts

While image-based prompts focus on descriptions, free-form text prompts expand your collection of to include storytelling, opinions, and explanations. These prompts allow you to record conversational patterns and a range of speech styles, not just simple descriptions.

Designing effective prompts

Create open-ended prompts that will get detailed responses of around 10-20 seconds. You need questions or instructions that invite contributors to share their experiences, opinions, or knowledge about their community. You are not asking for facts that might lead to short, limited answers.

Good focus on topics that people in the target communities are familiar with, such as:

• local traditions and cultural practices

• personal likes and dislikes, and experiences

• opinions about changes in the community

• descriptions of everyday activities

For example, "Describe your favorite traditional dish and how to make it" or "Tell me about an important celebration in your community". These prompts will get rich, natural responses.

A wide range of content

Vary the topics you use for your prompts to get different speech styles—storytelling, descriptions, instructions, and opinions. This will help you to create a more robust voice that can be used for various applications. Include prompts that relate to the local area and culture. This will make doing the recording more interesting and relevant for contributors.

Avoid content that is too complex, abstract or sensitive such as political opinions, religious matters, or private questions. Focus on easier topics that most contributors feel happy to talk about.

Here are a few examples of free-form prompts:

Talk about your favorite traditional dish and how to prepare it. If you're not sure how to make it, just tell us the ingredients. Tell us about the occasions when people cook it.
Tell me about an important festival or celebration in your community. You can say what it's called, when you celebrate it and what people do.
What changes have you noticed in your town/village over the last 10 years?
Imagine someone stops you on the road in your town/village and asks you how to get to Maidiguri. Tell him how to get there to the best of your knowledge. If you’re not sure, you can just say you don't really know and take him to someone that can help.
Tell us about your job. Describe a typical day for someone doing your job.
A stranger stops you near your home and asks how to get to the nearest health clinic or hospital. Give them directions, pointing out any landmarks or important details.
Tell us what you think about the education system in your region.
How do people celebrate weddings in your community?
Tell us about a popular game or sport played in your area
Do you think it’s important to preserve local languages and traditions?
How do men usually dress in your town? What kind of clothing or jewelry is typical for your region?