Mary Burke

Bio: Mary Burke is an academic researcher from University of North Texas. The author has contributed to research in topics: Metadata & Prefix. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 9 publications receiving 18 citations.

Organization of Knowledge and Information in Digital Archives of Language Materials

Abstract: Language archives are repositories of language data: material about or in a set of languages, including audio and video recordings, transcriptions, translations, and linguistic annotations. Beyond ...

Descriptive richness of free‐text metadata: A comparative analysis of three language archives

Abstract: As archiving became a priority in documentary linguistics only in the 1990's, existing research indicates that language archives are not yet up to date on best practices in information organization. As a result, metadata in language archives varies substantially, depending on the depositor, self‐upload procedures, and metadata creation guidelines. Focusing on free‐text metadata, known to provide rich information, this study analyzes item‐level metadata in three language archives: the Endangered Language Archive, Pacific Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures, and the Archive of the Indigenous Languages of Latin America. The study identified categories of information included in Description metadata fields and the relative distribution of these categories. The most commonly occurring categories of information observed in this study can serve as a basis for the development of best practice guidelines for item‐level metadata in language archives.

Exploration of information organization in language archives

Abstract: This submission reports preliminary results of the first stage of a research project that seeks to identify the information organization methods and techniques currently offered in the language data archives and the gaps between the tools and techniques available and the needs of actual and potential users of language data archives. We conducted an exploratory content analysis of the websites of the language archives (LAs) hosted by the institutions located in the United States and several other countries. The focus of our exploratory content analysis is on the information organization, including documentation on metadata standards, displaying of individual metadata records and availability of harvesting sets of metadata records, provision of advanced discovery and navigation options powered by metadata such as availability of adaptive and personalized search or social tagging functionality. Here, we report our preliminary findings and describe our plan for Stage 2 of the.

Identifying Challenges for Information Organization in Language Archives: Preliminary Findings

Abstract: Language archives are repositories of linguistic data about a selected set of languages, typically including recordings, transcripts, translations, and linguistic annotations. Digital accessibility of primary language data, particularly that of endangered languages, has long been recognized as necessary for research reproducibility, production of pedagogical materials, and typological discovery, though their potential currently lies dormant because these resources are rarely accessed by linguists or language communities. Reasons for the under-utilization of language archives include the lack of data standardization and decreased focus on metadata quality. The present work seeks to elucidate the issues facing language archive managers and users through two steps: content analysis of information organization in language archives, and semi-structured interviews with language archive managers and users. Primary challenges identified include lacking institutional support and a range of factors which impact authority control in language archives.

Health information behavior of speakers of endangered languages

Abstract: With the advent of increased attention towards language endangerment comes the need for a better understanding of how speakers of endangered languages interact with information, specifically health...

Dying words: endangered languages and what they have to tell us

Abstract: Dying words: endangered languages and what they have to tell us, edited by Nicholas Evans, Oxford and Malden, MA, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, xii + 287 pp., £55.00/US$104.95 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-631-2...

Organization of Knowledge and Information in Digital Archives of Language Materials

Abstract: Language archives are repositories of language data: material about or in a set of languages, including audio and video recordings, transcriptions, translations, and linguistic annotations. Beyond ...

Descriptive richness of free‐text metadata: A comparative analysis of three language archives

Abstract: As archiving became a priority in documentary linguistics only in the 1990's, existing research indicates that language archives are not yet up to date on best practices in information organization. As a result, metadata in language archives varies substantially, depending on the depositor, self‐upload procedures, and metadata creation guidelines. Focusing on free‐text metadata, known to provide rich information, this study analyzes item‐level metadata in three language archives: the Endangered Language Archive, Pacific Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures, and the Archive of the Indigenous Languages of Latin America. The study identified categories of information included in Description metadata fields and the relative distribution of these categories. The most commonly occurring categories of information observed in this study can serve as a basis for the development of best practice guidelines for item‐level metadata in language archives.

Identifying Challenges for Information Organization in Language Archives: Preliminary Findings

Abstract: Language archives are repositories of linguistic data about a selected set of languages, typically including recordings, transcripts, translations, and linguistic annotations. Digital accessibility of primary language data, particularly that of endangered languages, has long been recognized as necessary for research reproducibility, production of pedagogical materials, and typological discovery, though their potential currently lies dormant because these resources are rarely accessed by linguists or language communities. Reasons for the under-utilization of language archives include the lack of data standardization and decreased focus on metadata quality. The present work seeks to elucidate the issues facing language archive managers and users through two steps: content analysis of information organization in language archives, and semi-structured interviews with language archive managers and users. Primary challenges identified include lacking institutional support and a range of factors which impact authority control in language archives.