WordMAP-III – Linguistic Research

WordMAP-III: Product Description

General Description

This software is an addendum to WordMAP-II and completes the current WordMAP product series. WordMAP-III adds utilities and special-purpose modules designed for author identification, sublanguage analysis, and linguistic research.

Its analytical and statistical modules, when coupled with general-purpose statistical software, make it possible for students and faculty at all levels of the educational system to carry out exciting new studies and experiments with language.

Sublanguage Definition

Given a set of text samples, the DEFINITION module of WordMAP-III defines a sublanguage profile based on a multitude of linguistic patterns and variables present in the samples.

Sublanguage profiles are stored for future reference in the SUBLANGUAGE LIBRARY where they can be accessed by other modules. The standard WordMAP-III LIBRARY comes with pre-defined profiles for some two dozen famous authors. Teachers and students may add others as the need or interest arises.

Data comparison

The COMPARATOR module of WordMAP-III is designed for author-group identification and comparison of sublanguage profiles. It can display profiles for up to thirty (30) authors at once, graphing in parallel the response of hundreds of linguistic variables.

The WordMAP-III combo of special-purpose modules is designed for investigating comparative author-text relationships. Question: What is the relative frequency of common nouns and adjectives in Henry James as opposed to Tolkien, Faulkner, and Hemingway? WordMAP-III can give the answer.

WordMAP-III can also scan for correlations of interest. For example: Is positions by Teacher N and the relative proximity of their individual prose to the prose of Teacher N? If so, which variables are most highly correlated? Use WordMAP-III to find the answer.

Creating a Composite Index

The INDEX module of WordMAP-III will extract any subset of the total set of linguistic variables evaluated by WordMAP analysis modules and calculate a composite index based on their response.

One simply creates a file containing the variables to be used, assigns a weight to each, and mentions where those variables can be found. WordMAP-III will then calculate the new index for samples of sublanguages when directed to do so.

For example, the Grade Level Index (GRD) is comprised of English variables which are leading indicators of linguistic maturity.

Printing Reports

Individual graphic listings may be obtained manually by using WordMAP-III COMPARATOR and waiting for them to print. Or, when many listings are desired, the  WordMAP REPORTER is better alternative.

Simply set up a batch which specifies the different listings requested by everyone. The REPORTER then takes care of the printing without further intervention.

Finding Answers

WordMAP-III is the perfect analytical tool to enrich course work in comparative literature and stylometrics. By using it, one can approach questions such as these:

• Does the English used by Author N in early words differ from the English used by him or her in later works? If so, what are the differences, specifically, and how great are they? Use WordMAP-III to plot an answer.
• Does the English syntax used by 6th grade males differ from the syntax used by 6th grade females? If so, what constructions are involved? Use WordMAP-III to compare group profiles.
• Are personality type correlated with linguistic patterning in written prose? Use WordMAP-III to investigate the correlation.
• did President X really write the speech he delivered in Houston last march? Use WordMAP-III for an author identity study.

Extendibility

WordMAP-III is not just for English writers and researchers. It is extensible. The reason for this is that the WordMAP-III design is not limited to English — WordMAP-III can be everyone’s WordBENCH! Linguistic Technologies will implement foreign language versions on a contractual basis for interested parties.