Using finite state technology in a tool for linguistic exploration

Abstract

Intelligent, interactive and pervasively accessible tools for providing information about elements of a language are crucial in learning a language, especially in an advanced secondary language learning setting and learning for linguistic exploration. The paper describes a prototype implementation of a tool that provides intelligent, active and interactive tools for helping linguistics students inquire and learn about lexical and syntactic properties of words and phrases in Turkish text. The tool called LingBrowser uses extensive finite state language processing technology to provide instantaneous information about morphological, segmental, pronunciation properties about the words in any real text. Additional resources also provide access to semantic properties of (root) words.