Language documentation tools and methods: Difference between revisions

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=== FLEx ===

[http://fieldworks.sil.org/ FieldWorks Language Explorer, FLEx] is developed by [http://www.sil.org/ SIL International formerly Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. ] at [[SIL International]] in [[Dallas]]. FLEx allows the user to build a "lexicon" of the language, i.e. a word-list with definitions and grammatical information, and also to store texts from the language. Within the texts, each word or part of a word (i.e. a "morpheme") is linked to an entry in the lexicon. For new projects and for students learning for the first time, [http://fieldworks.sil.org/ FLEx] is now the best tool for interlinearising and dictionary-making.

=== Toolbox ===

[http://www-01.sil.org/computing/toolbox/?_ga=GA1.2.2087213860.1467275369 Field Linguist's Toolbox] (usually called Toolbox) is a precursor of [http://fieldworks.sil.org/ FLEx] and has been one of the most widely used language documentation packages for some decades. Previously known as [http://www-01.sil.org/computing/shoebox/index.html?_ga=GA1.2.2087213860.1467275369 Shoebox], Toolbox's primary functions are construction of a lexical database, and interlinearization of texts through interaction with the lexical database. Both lexical database and texts can be exported to a word processing environment, in the case of the lexical database using the Multi-Dictionary Formatter ([http://www-01.sil.org/computing/shoebox/MDF.html MDF]) conversion tool. It is also possible to use Toolbox as a transcription environment.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Margetts|first=Andrew|date=2009|title=Using Toolbox with Media Files|url=http://hdl.handle.net/10125/4426|journal=Language Documentation & Conservation |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=51–86|doi=|pmid=|access-date=}}</ref> By comparison with ELAN and FLEx, Toolbox has relatively limited functionality, and is felt by some to have an unintuitive design and interface. However, a large number of projects have been carried-out in the Shoebox/Toolbox environment over its lifespan, and its user base continues to enjoy its advantages of familiarity, speed, and community support. Toolbox is now outdated and should not be taught to new students.

=== Tools for automating components of the workflow ===