Query

A number of different tools are provided to construct queries on the data in LAPSyD:


• Symbol from table allows simple searches for presence or absence of common vowel or consonant symbols in language inventories.
• Boolean operator allows the use of AND, OR, NOT constraints to define the query objective. Searches can be defined over features, segments, categorical values in the syllable, tone, and stress fields, language families or areas, or combinations of any of these. It is the most complex of the search tools.
• Search for contrast is designed to search for the presence of specific contrasts in inventories of consonants and vowels.

In addition it is possible to conduct a Text search. This option appears under the Access Languages tab. It allows a search for the occurrence of specific words, phrases or numbers in the commentary fields on consonants, vowels, tone, stress and syllables and in language metadata (names, codes, sources).

At present it is not possible to query information on the size of consonant and vowel inventories, or the segment frequency data included for those languages where it is available.