Lexical Analysis and Output: FIELD

Page Index

• FIELD - Field Input Environment for Linguistic Data
• Language Profile
• Language Keyboard
• Customized Interface
• Add an entry
• Paradigm Worksheet
• Managing Data

FIELD - Field Input Environment for Linguistic Data

Field Input Environment for Linguistic Data (FIELD) is one tool for entering data in best practice format and outputting it as XML. It is a web-based tool designed to support the preservation of endangered language data. FIELD provides a convenient interface for linguists to interact with language data in a fully searchable online database, which is flexible enough to accommodate the language data of different language families and typological configurations. At any time, the linguist can ask FIELD to convert the database contents to an XML-based format that is suitable for long-term archiving. Using FIELD, a linguist can easily set up a Language Profile, create a clickable language input keyboard, and customize an input interface for specific language requirements. Data can be entered as individual lexical entries or in a paradigm worksheet .

The initial version of the FIELD tool was designed for Biao Min, a Hmong-Mien language, and is being expanded to accommodate the Guaicuruan language, Mocoví, and the Algonquian language Potawatomi.

Language Profile

Creating a Language Profile allows you to define the syntactic categories of the language and the morphosyntactic features (with their possible values) that are allowed for each. Your Language Profile provides data entry options customized to your needs. The Language Profiles in FIELD will be utilized to create grammatical sketches and a cross-language search facility. You must create a Language Profile for every language you work on in FIELD.

Language Keyboard

FIELD is fully Unicode compatible. You can create a language-specific, customized pop-up keyboard with all the IPA and international characters you need, and define keyboard shortcuts for frequently used characters. Your keyboard can be modified at any time.

Customized Interface

FIELD provides a convenient interface designed for detailed analysis of linguistic forms. The entry interface is customized using your Language Profile: entry fields are created based on the profile's indication of the language's grammatical functions and feature values and your choice of gloss language, and the preferred format of example sentences and comparison forms. The interface can be created or modified at any time.

Add an entry

Once the interface has been customized, a linguistic form can be added to the database based upon the previously defined Language Profile and Language Keyboard settings. This interface can be modified at any time to accomodate the needs of the linguist.

Paradigm Worksheet

If you would like to enter various forms of related words and easily define relationships between words, you might want to use the paradigm worksheet. This worksheet allows the linguist to enter multiple forms of words and define relationships quickly and easily. This function is especially useful for noun declensions and verb paradigms.

Managing Data

FIELD provides convenient data management options once data has been entered. Entries can be updated individually regardless of entry method.

A note on browser compatibility

• PC Compatible: For best results, use Internet Explorer 6.0/Netscape Navigator 6.2 or above and a screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels or higher.
• Macintosh: For best results, use Netscape 7.1 or Mozilla, an open source web browser, and a screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels or higher.