Development of online searchable language classification (fwd)

[Yuphaphann Hoonchamlong]

FYI.
======
From: Kanjana T. <kanjana3 at gmail.com>

Dear all,

For those who are interested in Historical linguistics, genetic
relationship, and language classification.  Please see message below.

  Message 1: Multi-Tree: A Digital Library of Language Relationships  *Date:
* 22-Mar-2007
*From:* linguist <linguistlinguistlist.org>
*Subject:* Multi-Tree: A Digital Library of Language Relationships


Dear Subscribers,

Multi-Tree is an innovative project being developed by The LINGUIST List to
create a digital library of scholarly hypotheses about language
relationships and
subgroupings. This information will be organized in a searchable database with
a web interface. Each hypothesis will be presented graphically as an
interactive
diagram of a family tree, accompanied by information on all of the languages
involved and attribution to the authors and bibliographical sources of the
hypothesis. It will interact with the LL-MAP Project, a georeferenced
linguistic
database that will provide users with a fully functional Geographical
Information
System through which linguistic data - including subgrouping
information- can be
viewed in its geographical context. Both these databases will be
integrated with
the existing LINGUIST List databases, providing access to a wealth of
information
on related books, articles, dissertations, and conferences.

The Multi-Tree web site will be a valuable resource for students as well as for
scholars. By making detailed information about a particular classification so
accessible, we hope to provide an easy way to propose and test new hypotheses.
Scholars other than linguists- for instance, historians, archaeologists,
ethnographers and geneticists- will be able to use Multi-Tree as well as they
explore the relationship between prehistoric movements of peoples and cultures,
and the spread of languages across the Earth.

The Multi-Tree project is funded by a three-year grant from the
National Science
Foundation. Its Principal Investigators are Anthony Aristar and Helen
Aristar-Dry
of Eastern Michigan University, co-founders of The LINGUIST List.
Martha Ratliff
of Wayne State University is the co-PI. Students from Wayne State
University and
Eastern Michigan University are gathering hypotheses for the project
and developing
the database and the web interface. Our panel of advisors includes language
technology experts and distinguished linguists from comparative and historical
linguistics, language typology, and specific language areas; they are actively
engaged as consultants throughout the duration of the project.

Here is the link for this site: http://linguistlist.org/multitree/

If you find this site of interest to your own research and wish to lend your
support for its development, please consider making a contribution during our
Fund Drive 2007. Thank you!

Sincerely,
The LINGUIST Crew







------------------------------
Message 2: Susan Smith on Graphic Design & Historical Linguistics
*Date:*22-Mar-2007
*From:* linguist <linguistlinguistlist.org>
*Subject:* Susan Smith on Graphic Design & Historical Linguistics


Dear Subscribers,

My name is Susan Smith, and I have been working at LINGUIST for over a year.
I'm a Master's student at Wayne State University in Detroit, and I'm
particularly
interested in historical linguistics. Given this interest, I've been very
fortunate to be involved in the Multi-Tree project, which is compiling
an online
searchable database of language classification hypotheses.

In addition to working on Multi-Tree, I am the Listserv administrator,
so I handle
subscription issues and matters having to do with the many mailing
lists our web
site hosts. I've also been able to work on some graphic design projects, which
is great because my undergraduate degree was in art.

I love working at LINGUIST because I have a wide range of tasks to do, all of
which use different abilities and teach me new skills. It's a great working
environment, and I learn new things about linguistics every day.

I'd like to thank everyone who uses LINGUIST List and who donates to
support our
work. This is a great learning opportunity for me as well as for
everyone I work
with, and of course a valuable resource for the linguistics community
worldwide.

Best,
Susan Smith
LINGUIST Editor