Question About Software

[Dan Harvey]

I think one problem is that there is lots of grant money for documentation but little for language lesson software. As such there are not many Computer Scientists working in this area. Note that the ACORNS project (http://cs.sou.edu/~harveyd/acorns) is dedicated to software that specifically is designed to create language lessons. Hopefully, we'll be able to integrate this with documentation efforts. Once we can import linguistic information as dictionaries and grammars, there is virtually no limit as to what can be done. 


>>> phil cash cash <cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU> 10/19/2007 11:35 AM >>>
Good question Kenna. 
I am under the impression that few of the language documentation
software (e.g.
linguistic data creation) that linguists use are designed to allow language
teaching or language learning.  I think many might agree that documentation
goals and language revititalizatin goals are compatible and desirable, but in
practice they are quite separate activities and the linguists software
tends to
reflect this reality. 
I and others would be thrilled certainly if we could unite documentation and
revitalization as one collaborative activity.  And my impressions from the
recent Indigenous Languages Conference and the Australian Linguistics Society
Conference in Adelaide, Australia this past September shows that this is
happening with promising results! 
At the moment, Miromaa (being developed and tested in collaboration with
Aboriginal speakers in Australia) and MaxAuthor (developed with Native
American
speakers/communities and international languages) seem the most capable
of what
you ask for.  Lexique Pro (dictionary software) may also be used for lesson
creation, however, the data results are pretty flat in terms of its one-way
format.  I am not familiar with the other software on your list.  Otherwise,
you may end up migrating masses of data into alternative formats, interfaces,
etc.
Ultimately, with any of these software, you may be limited to designing
lessons
on grammar, structure, and vocabulary rather than developing immersion-based
lessons.  But this is not bad at all! 
l8ter,
Phil Cash Cash
UofA

Quoting Kenna Smith :

> Greetings all,
>
> To quote Dr. Carnie, "I'm new to the list, so please forgive me if this is
> either inappropriate or has been discussed before."
>
> I am a Linguistics undergraduate and am trying to get a sense of what
> programs can be used for language documentation - specifically language
> lesson creation.  I have heard about quite a few through this listserv, and
> have found some on my own, but I have the feeling there are many programs
> available that I have not heard of.  As such, I was hoping that maybe some
> of you would be willing to share the names of programs you are aware of or
> have worked with for the development of language lessons and / or
> documentary materials (dictionaries, grammars etc).
>
> I have listed the programs I know about (including their cost and method of
> obtaining the software) below for the sake of efficiency, and as an attempt
> to contribute to the listserv since I am asking for information.
>
> Thank you very much for your help,
> Kenna
>
> PROGRAMS FOR LANGUAGE LESSON CREATION:
>
> CourseLab
> http://courselab.com/db/cle/root_id/examples/doc.html 
>  -- Free (expansion packs cost money)
>  -- No Contact Necessary (download from website)
>
> Multimedia LessonBuilder
> http://engage.wisc.edu/accomplishments/mmlb/index.html 
>  -- Purchase for $30 (https://wisccharge.wisc.edu/LandS/)
>  -- Send Money (hard copy of program will be sent by mail)
>
> MaxAuthor
> http://cali.arizona.edu/docs/wmaxa/ 
>  -- Free
>  -- No Contact Necessary (download from website)
>
> ACORNS
> http://cs.sou.edu/~harveyd/acorns/ 
>  -- Free
>  -- No Contact Necessary (download from website)
>
>
> PROGRAMS WHICH MIGHT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LANGUAGE LESSONS:
>
> Microsoft Software Miromaa
> http://www.arwarbukarl.com.au/default.aspx?id=151 (best viewed in IE browser)
>  -- Purchase for $??
>  -- Must Contact (via phone, fax, email, or physical address)
>
> Akira Language Project
> http://www.indiana.edu/~aisri/projects/atp/atp.shtml (ATP)
> http://www.indiana.edu/~aisri/projects/idd/idd.shtml (IDD) -- "The program,
> now in its final stages of development, is designed to support standard
> textual linguistic material as well as sound data, graphical images, and
> video clips."
>  -- Free
>  -- Must Contact (via phone, fax, email, or physical address)
>
> Visual Understanding Environment (VUE)
> http://vue.uit.tufts.edu/ 
>  -- Free
>  -- No Contact Necessary (download from website)
>
> Kirr Kirr
> http://www-nlp.stanford.edu/kirrkirr/ 
>  -- Free
>  -- No Contact Necessary (download from website)