Heuristic theory in corpus compilation: 探试理论在语料库研制中的应用

John Patkin

doi:10.1515/jelf-2016-0023

Article

Heuristic theory in corpus compilation

探试理论在语料库研制中的应用

John Patkin
John Patkin is a Hong Kong-based researcher. He is Chief Transcriber of the Asian Corpus of English and the Hong Kong Archive of Language Learning. His doctoral studies focused on the use of English as a lingua franca in public service broadcasting. He is currently exploring the role of transcription in research and the Internet’s disruption to traditional audio broadcasting platforms.

Published/Copyright: September 14, 2016

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From the journal Journal of English as a Lingua Franca Volume 5 Issue 2

Abstract

Building the Asian Corpus of English (ACE, 2014) involved complex interactions between researchers, participants, transcription conventions, software and hardware. The gathering and transcribing of naturally occurring conversations of English among Asian multilinguals was undertaken by a team of more than twenty researchers in nine locations across Asia. Modelled on the Vienna Oxford Corpus of English (VOICE), ACE faced unique challenges due to linguistic, cultural and geographical differences. These problems were solved through procedures and tools known as heuristics which were built on prior experience and also trial and error. The process of developing and categorising these skills are presented with experiences shared by ACE researchers and the author along with examples from the corpus.

摘要

亚洲英语语料库（ACE）的研制涉及研究者，参与人员，转写规范，软件和硬件相互之间复杂的交流。共有二十多名研究者在亚洲九个地方收集和转写亚洲多语使用者的自然英语对话。基于维也纳牛津英语语料库（VOICE）的模式，ACE因语言、文化和地域的差异面临独特的挑战。这些问题通过探试法这个工具，即通过先前的经验和反复试验得以解决。这些技能的发展和分类过程体现在ACE研究者和作者在实践中共享的经验以及语料库中的例子。

Keywords: transcription; heuristics; corpus; ELF; Asia

关键词: 转写; 探试法; 语料库; 英语作为通用语; 亚洲

About the author

John Patkin

John Patkin is a Hong Kong-based researcher. He is Chief Transcriber of the Asian Corpus of English and the Hong Kong Archive of Language Learning. His doctoral studies focused on the use of English as a lingua franca in public service broadcasting. He is currently exploring the role of transcription in research and the Internet’s disruption to traditional audio broadcasting platforms.

Appendix 1: Summary of VoiceScribe mark-up conventions used in this paper (Figure 7)

Figure 7:

VoiceScribe conventions.

Appendix 2: ACE researcher survey questions

How would you describe your experience doing data collection for ACE?
In your opinion, what makes a good data collector?
How would you describe your experience with VoiceScribe?
How has your field of study helped you with transcribing for ACE?
In your opinion, what makes a good transcriber?

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Published Online: 2016-9-14

Published in Print: 2016-9-1

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https://doi.org/10.1515/jelf-2016-0023

Keywords for this article

transcription; heuristics; corpus; ELF; Asia