Kirrkirr — Introduction
“Kirrkirr aims at a perceived gap in work being done elsewhere: while there is a lot of work on designing dictionary databases, and providing software for building and maintaining these databases, there is a dearth of work that exploits these databases to provide useful and fun tools for nontechnical end users.”
Kirrkirr Website
Kirrkirr is a tool that takes pre-existing lexical data in XML format and creates multiple ways to visualize information for learners. This tool aims to make Indigenous language dictionaries more engaging for users and language learners. The final product opens only within the Kirrkirr software.
Kirrkirr is a tool for end-users of a dictionary. Engaging ways to interact with the information are created once lexicographical data is imported into the software and automated. Kirrkirr adds search and browsing functionality, including approximate search and browsing via semantic domains or crossword puzzles. Various options for more engaging and adaptable entry organization are provided, such as an option to provide simple and shorter entries catered to younger users. To further provide language data engagingly, animated words, audio, pictures, and games can be used throughout the dictionary. The software can perform language reversal, where for example, an English-Finish dictionary is reversed to become a Finish-English dictionary.
A well-structured dictionary in XML format must already be in place to use this tool. Kirrkirr is not software that can be used to build or maintain dictionaries. The final product of this interactive dictionary stays on Kirrkirr and can only be viewed by those who have downloaded the software.
Though there was an interim update in 2021, the latest completed update to the program was in 2008.
Highlights
- Free
- Makes language data more engaging and accessible to non-technical users
- Add dictionary functionality such as:
- Approximate search and browsing
- Multimedia learning through pictures, audio, and games
- Visual representation of semantic domains
- Language reversal
- Unicode compliant
- Compatible with Windows, MacOS, and Linux Systems
- Most processes are automated which makes using it beginner-friendly
- Most functions happen automatically
- All features are available within the software itself, and website or app building is not required
From McElvenny, J. 2008. “Kirrkirr Review.” Langauge Documentation and Conservation, 2(1): 160-165. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/b4f0cbcb-40c7-4c7c-a5df-a41f8618826f/content.
- Innovative and engaging
- Easy to adapt to any dictionary
Considerations
- Cannot export for use on other platforms
- Not open source
- Requires a completed dictionary in XML file format
- Does not create dictionaries
- Importing a dictionary requires intermediate computer skills, as the importing process can be buggy depending on where the data comes from
- No full update since 2008
- Few support guides or reviews
- Few opportunities for customization
- No information about how to share the tool with other users
- The language reversal feature may be flawed or have errors
From McElvenny, J. 2008. “Kirrkirr Review.” Language Documentation and Conservation, 2(1): 160-165. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/b4f0cbcb-40c7-4c7c-a5df-a41f8618826f/content.
- Knowledge of XML and XSLT is required
Alternatives to Kirrkirr
ACORNS is another tool designed to make language data more engaging to learners and has many similar functions to Kirrkirr.
Examples of Dictionaries Using Kirrkirr
The Kirrkirr website showcases some of the features of the software in the Screenshots section. More examples of dictionaries using Kirrkirr can be viewed in the example files once the software has been downloaded.
Support Services
There are no step-by-step guides on how to use Kirrkirr once data is imported, as most of the functions are automated. However, there is a section on the Kirrkirr website that details how to import a dictionary from an XML file into the software.
The Kirrkirr project has an email that users can use for any questions (manning@stanford.edu).
Developer
Kirrkirr was developed by the Stanford Natural Language Processing Group, and was originally created for the Warlpiri dictionary project.
The newest version of Kirrkirr was released in 2021. However, this is an interim update and the most stable form of Kirrkirr is version 4.0.3, which was released in 2008.