The Dictionary System (diploma thesis)
1. Basic information
The Dictionary System is an online application written in PHP, using MySQL database,
that intends to support team development of bilingual dictionaries. Its aim is
similar to TshwaneLex application, Matapuna project. TshwaneLex is for proffesionals,
It is not free of charge. The Matapuna project is free of charge and can be downloaded.2. Aim
The reason I have chosen to build another similar workarea is that I want me and other
users be able to use dictionary software freely and that the Matupana project I have tried was not possible
to install to my host server. Thought it does not mean that other users won't be able to use it.
I am in contact with the developer of Matapuna and I hope we will both enrich our systems
and that the systems can offer different approaches.3. Pocket bilingual dictionaries
It is especially intended for building pocket bilingual dictionaries. The application is web-based. The users
have to have only a web-browser like Firefox or Opera etc. It is a subject for discussion if the users will have to have
their own web space and an mysql access or it will be offered as a matter of service of this application thanks to
the contributers. The usual printed pocket dictionary contains 20 000 words in one way. This dictionary usually contains
no etymological or detailed grammer information. The system will be designed for this amount of words. It can handle
certainly more words but the limit will be the parts of the entry in the database. It is still a subject of discussion what
parts of entry will be included and all advice are wellcomed as I see the problem just from the point of making
Icelandic-Czech Dictionary. I understand that other languages will demand other information in each entry.4. Entries
The dictionary entries will be stored in MySQL database. The entry consists of keyword which is one per entry. The keyword
can have many 'words' - different meanings. Entry consist of - occurance, keyword, word, order in keyword, number of keyword
(if there are same keywords), pronunciation, gramatical information, examples, notes, category and subcategory.
When the user corrects the entry, this correction will be saved in duplicate database not in the main database. The admin or
the main developer will join later the words together, he decides what is correct.5. Team support
The dictionary team sets the workarea, name the dictionary and start building it. Users will have to login to the system
and will have limited rights so that they cannot delete the data. Most important thing is the support for
communication between users. They can chat online, send offline messages to one or more users, send corrected
entries for another check to other users. The admin will mark the words with some special sign (OK) when the entry is completed,
corrected and ready to print. The search functions enable to search words still not ready to print, search for missing information
in each part of the entry (for example empty translation field). All activity will be saved so that the users can observe the activity
of the whole team. The users can search in other user's activity.6. XDXF format
The result - the ready-to-print dictionary - will be in special xml format - XDXF which is supported by many dictionary programs,
and as a special xml format it will be (very probably) format for publishing houses. (*contact one p. house). The XDXF format
can be translated to Stardict format by the makedict script written by XDXF developers. This script can translate the XDXF format
to other format for other free dictionary programs.7. Plan
My intention is to use this system to build an Icelandic-Czech Dictionary and Czech-Icelandic Dictionary that will be
free of charge. This dictionary can be now found at http://www.hvalur.org . I plan to check this system first and during the work change
the system so that it will be quicker to make the dictionary. My plan is to finish the system during one year, the latest possible end
of the work is April 2008. During half of the year, August 2007, there will be an alpha release that will be prepared for testing.
I plan to make a Manual in English and Czech language. I will have to find few linguists to check the system and
write about it few notes which I have to include in my diploma thesis.8. Web pages
The Dictionary System is supported by SourceForge.net at http://sourceforge.net/projects/dict-system. There you can find
and download source codes. There is a forum that can help new users to understand how to work with the system.
I will put some snapshots to illustrate the installation and workarea later.
Other information can be found at http://www.hvalur.org. and http://www.hvalur.org. The XDXF project supports us with the web space of 200MB and an access to mySQL database so that we can test the system. The root directory is at http://xdxf.revdanica.com/online/ and the directory with the system is at http://xdxf.revdanica.com/online/ds/ Thank you for support.9. Thanks
The Dictionary System is my diploma thesis for Ostrava University. This University allowed me to do what I have always wanted
and thats why I would like to thank my teacher Mrs Nagyova and my Icelandic teacher Mrs. Kadeckova.
