The Linguist's Shoebox
Integrated data management and analysis for the field linguist
General overview
For most linguists and anthropologists, managing data on the computer is time-consuming. They collect thousands of data items when learning a language and culture. Shoebox goes with researchers through all the stages of their field work. Because Shoebox integrates various kinds of data and makes it quickly available, field workers can spend less time on the computer and invest more time with the people interacting and learning.
This general overview has been adapted from the Shoebox self-paced training program, which covers the following topics:
- Shoebox Overviews: General and Detailed
- Shoebox Basics
- Interlinearization: Basic and Advanced
- Making Dictionaries: Multi-Dictionary Formatter (MDF)
- Advanced Topics and Tips
The general overview of Shoebox is presented as the "story of a linguist". It consists of 54 images (about 15 KB each). The overview is displayed in a new window. When you are finished, close it. The viewer window uses somewhat more than 640 by 480 pixels of screen area. In the lower-left corner, there are four arrows that you can click to select images, a progress indicator, and an X that you can click to close the window. It works best in version 4 and later of Internet Explorer and Navigator/Communicator.
General overview topics:
- Data management
- Data analysis
- Anthropological data*
- Interlinearization of texts
- Grammar outline
- Moving around
*Shoebox does not include the Outline of Cultural Materials (OCM). The LinguaLinks® Library does include the OCM as an electronic book and as a Shoebox database. We encourage owners of the LinguaLinks® Library to use this OCM database in their Shoebox Anthropology project. However, this OCM database may only be distributed to those who have a LinguaLinks® Library license.