Access
- Access & Compatibility
- Cost
- Internet
- Skills Required
Flexibility
- Script Support
- Language Support
- Customizability
- Multi-Users Support
Data & Compatibility
- Software Compatibility
- Import
- Export
Access
1. Access & Compatibility
WeSay can be used on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Linux. It is not compatible with MacOS. The link for users to download WeSay can be found here.
2. Cost
WeSay is a free and open source tool. However, SIL International encourages donations.
WeSay is available under the MIT License which places limited restrictions on the user.
3. Internet
Internet is required to download the software from the WeSay website, but users can edit and save dictionaries offline. If users do not have internet access, they can share data offline by hard disc or USB flash drive. Users can share data online through cloud sharing or by email.
4. Skills Required
WeSay is designed to be used by community members with limited computer training. This software is very simple and requires minimal background training. Documents are available that detail how to execute each step.
Knowledge of basic computer conventions is assumed, such as scrolling, highlighting, and selecting a field to show hidden options.
This tool is not designed for users with a stable and high-speed internet connection, those wishing to perform more complicated operations, or users who possess intermediate computer skills. For such users, FLEx is a related tool with more features than WeSay.
Flexibility
5. Script Support
This tool is able to read IPA and some other specific language fonts, such as Hebrew, but all available fonts appear to be based on orthographies derived from Latin scripts. WeSay is not Unicode compliant. Support for Indigenous language orthographies is not guaranteed. It is possible to access more fonts by downloading Gecko.
This tool is primarily adapted for compiling language data in IPA or in a Latin-derived orthography.
6. Language Support
The interface for WeSay is available in 19 languages, including Arabic, Malaysian, French, English, and Swahili. However, some English terms are left untranslated. The extent of language localization is not entirely clear, and there are no instructions on how to add additional interface languages.
Search can be undertaken using any of the available reference languages or the target language. Approximate search is supported.
When printing directly from WeSay, the selected language will be used in the dictionary.
7. Customizability
WeSay allows images to be added to the dictionary. If PrinceXml is installed, there is also an option to format each page as a single block of text or as a two-column dictionary to save space. Users can add words, label parts of speech and add example sentences for each entry using the fill-in-the-blank framework.
Other than this, there is little opportunity for customization due to the intended simplicity of the software. Once the WeSay database is exported to FLEx, more substantial customization can be undertaken.
8. Multi-User Support
WeSay is designed to be used by multiple speakers. Additions to a WeSay file can be imported into FLEx.
Data & Compatibility
9. Software Compatibility
WeSay is fully compatible with FLEx. Language data can be moved back and forth between WeSay and FLEx in the process of collection.
Data can also be exported to LexiquePro and DAB. More details can be found in Import and Export sections below.
10. Import
Data can be imported from FLEx using a LIFT file.
11. Export
There are multiple ways to export data compiled in WeSay. Using a LIFT file, data can be exported to FLEx or sent to collaborators via email. It is also possible to export via SFN. These formats are offered as choices within the WeSay software. Additional edits can be made before publishing after exporting.
The final output of a WeSay project can be converted to a PDF file and printed. Instructions for printing a dictionary created with WeSay can be found here.
In order to host the resource online, WeSay must be moved to Lexique Pro for formatting. Details for how to post the resource online can be found on the Lexique Pro website. It is also possible to make WeSay data into an app by exporting it to DAB.