[Lexicog] DDP merge with pre-existing databases

[Ron Moe]

If you have no dictionary, you can use the DDP to get started. If you
already have a dictionary, you can use the DDP to expand it and classify it.
If you have an existing dictionary, I would recommend the following
procedure (which is explained in detail in the document ddp_steps.doc). Hold
a workshop to collect words using the DDP domain templates. Type the words
using the procedure explained in the document ddp_instr_for_typists.doc. Use
the Shoebox 'Merge databases' feature to merge the new database into your
existing database. Merge records with identical head words.

This will place the domain reference(s) at the end of the record. For
instance if your existing database has the entry:

\lx mugongo
\ps n
\de back; the rear portion of the torso from the neck to the waist

and the workshop yields the following entries:

\lx mugongo
\de back, backbone
\is 2.2.2            [index of semantics]
\th Kifubba n'ekida  [thesaurus (vernacular domain label)]
\sd Torso            [semantic domain (English domain label)]

\lx mugongo
\de back
\is 8.6
\th Kitundu
\sd Parts of things

Then the resulting entry after merging the databases and merging duplicate
records would be:

\lx mugongo
\ps n
\de back; the rear portion of the torso from the neck to the waist
\de back, backbone
\is 2.2.2
\th Kifubba n'ekida
\sd Torso
\de back
\is 8.6
\th Kitundu
\sd Parts of things

You would then need to edit each entry to set up multiple senses and put the
relevant domain references under each sense.

You can also type the new words directly into your existing database, but
there are serious problems doing so. The primary one is that it is far less
efficient. When you are typing 17,000 words, efficiency is critical.

The advantages to holding a workshop are several. You will add words to your
dictionary. Your dictionary will cover most domains of the language, giving
it fuller coverage. Many words will show up in more than one domain,
suggesting instances of polysemy or range of application of a single sense.
For instance in Lunyole the word mafuta 'oil' showed up under 'Oil' 'Fuel'
'Cooking ingredients' 'Cosmetics' and 'Medicine'. Most of the words in your
existing dictionary will also be elicited in the workshop, so this is a way
to semantically classify your dictionary. You can then sort the database by
domain or print it as a thesaurus.

Ron Moe
SIL, Uganda




-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Leman [mailto:wayne_leman at sil.org]
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 9:13 AM
To: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Lexicog] DDP merge with pre-existing databases


To: Ron Moe

Ron, does DDP only run as separate discovery program or can it be merged to
run from within a pre-existing Shoebox database? If the former, can DDP
results be easily merged with pre-existing databases?

Wayne
-----
Wayne Leman
Busby, Montana, U.S.A.
Cheyenne dictionary project:
http://www.geocities.com/cheyenne_language/cddicy.htm




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