Language documentation tools and methods: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:39, 20 July 2018

Revision as of 04:46, 20 July 2018

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=== 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 isalso nowhas outdatedthe advantage of working directly with human-readable Text files that can be opened in any text editor and shouldeasily notmanipulated. Toolbox files can also be taughteasily converted for storage in XML, such as with open source Python libraries like [https://github.com/xigt/xigt Xigt] intended for computational uses toof newIGT studentsdata.

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