Linked Data for Linguistic Diversity Research: Glottolog/Langdoc and ASJP Online

Abstract

Most of the linguistic resources available to day are about the world’s major languages. This paper discusses two projects which have world-wide coverage as their aim. Glottolog/Langdoc is an attempt to attain near-complete bibliographical coverage for the world’s lesser-known languages (i.e. 95% of the world’s linguistic diversity), which then provides solid empirical ground for extensional definitions of languages and language classification. Automated Similarity Judgment Program (ASJP) online provides standardized lexical distance data for 5800 languages as Linked Data. These two projects are the first attempt at a Typological Linked Data Cloud, to which PHOIBLE by other resources can easily be added in the future.