Development of reusable resources for Human Language Technologies (HLT) applications: practice and experience

Abstract

Language resources, by their very nature, serve as a repository of linguistic knowledge. They are therefore essential in the building and improvement of natural language applications. The aim of this paper is to elaborate on the practice and the experience gained in the development, maintenance and management of such resources with specific reference to African languages. The focus is on the methods of collection and the formats concerning word lists, morphological analysis and lemma lists. The resources discussed, are those developed in collaborative research with North-West University's Spelling Checker Project. As a broader perspective, the reusability of such resources is highlighted. Recommendations are also made regarding the way forward nationally in developing a resource centre to facilitate the technological development of South African Bantu languages.