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Workshop

Introduction of LEXUS and ViCoS, April 2, 2009

LEXUS is a web based Lexicon Manipulation and Analysis Tool, which allows users the creation of online multi-media encyclopedic lexica. It is not just another lexicon tool, since it offers the possibility to visualize language. Over the last three years some DoBeS projects, and some projects from within the MPI, have built up experience with LEXUS. Until now the UI did not really permit a wide and distributed use of the tool, and an intensive support from the MPI TG was required. Now the new UI is available, which will facilitate its use.

ViCoS is a tool that allows users to create arbitrary relations between lexical entries or parts thereof. For the access of lexical resources, it interfaces with LEXUS. With ViCoS, users can complement the lexical space with a conceptual space, creating a type of informal ontology to describe any domain of interest as long as its concepts have a linguistic realization in the language(s) of study.

Major Goals Language documentation aims at the creation of a representative and long lasting, multipurpose record of natural languages. It contributes to maintain, consolidate or revitalize endangered languages, and inherently, also contributes to the description of cultural elements of a language community. The aim of LEXUS and ViCoS is to increase this cultural aspect by allowing users to complement linguistic information with multimedia and to show the meaning of the word in its conceptual and cultural context.

Two groups are users are supported:

  • Scientists such as linguists and anthropologists may use the tools to contribute to and exploit resources to study the language and culture of a community, or to compare them to the ones of other communities. ViCoS complements LEXUS’ functionality by making available easy-to-use technology to impose a more conceptual view over lexical information, but also to define structures that are orthogonal to the ones defined by a lexicon’s schema.
  • Speech community members may use LEXUS to attractively browse and complement the lexicon. ViCoS may be used to describe the language and culture and to learn from such resources. With ViCoS, speech community members can assume an active role in the documentation of their language and culture, thus supporting revitalization efforts.

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    Program

    Where and when:
    09:00-17:00 Apr 2, 2009
    MPI NIjmegen
    Organizers:
    Mark Kemps-Snijders
    Jacquelijn Ringersma
    Peter Wittenburg
    Claus Zinn
    Contact:
    Jacquelijn Ringersma,
    Last checked 2010-08-03 by Jacquelijn Ringersma

    Max Planck Institute
    for Psycholinguistics


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