WordSpinner: Developing a tool to convert plain-text lexicon files into dictionary webpages

Abstract

Dictionaries for under-resourced languages are, like other dictionaries, traditionally in hard-copy form. Electronic online formats can improve access to dictionaries for under-resourced languages. To make it easier to create online dictionaries with linked sound and image files, starting from a Toolbox file or similar backslash-formatted dictionary text file, a new online tool, WordSpinner, was created. It was used and iteratively improved over several years in order to convert backslash lexicon text files into formatted dictionary output pages, with five Indigenous languages of Australia. In various stages of dictionary creation, checking, and formatting, the online tool was revised to meet user needs. The resulting version of WordSpinner is another free option now available to users for creating online dictionaries. Show more