Here's an announcement about some software for linguistic
analysis, which may be of interest to some AFLS members.
AC
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Would you mind forwarding the following email about the release of some new
software for linguistic analysis to the BAAL list?
Many thanks, Kay
Systemics1.0, software for coding linguistic analysis of text, is now
available from Singapore University Press. See below for details about the
capabilities of the software and how to order a copy. Basically the
software contains a pre-programmed systemic functional grammar, but this
'standard' grammar can be changed so that Systemics1.0 can be used for
teaching and research projects which use other theoretical approaches. The
text which is to be analysed is converted to a database file so that the
analysis can be coded through pull down menus. There is a search facility
which can be used to extract the results of the analysis. All pages may be
printed, and tables etc inserted into word processing documents.
Systemics1.0 is installed on all computers in our Dept's computer lab at
the National University of Singapore . I have found the software effective
for teaching linguistic analysis at both the undergraduate and postgraduate
levels. Many of my postgraduate students have also used the software for
their research projects.
See below for more details. For further information, please email me,
Regards, Kay
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Systemics 1.0, software for coding SFL analysis developed by Kay O'Halloran
and Kevin Judd through a Research Grant at the National University of
Singapore, is now available from Singapore University Press. Please see
below for an overview of the software, the cost and information about
ordering the CDROM. Further information about Systemics 1.0 may be
obtained from Kay O'Halloran (see contact details below)
1. OVERVIEW OF THE SOFTWARE
Systemics 1.0 is independent and stand-alone software designed to allow
efficient and comprehensive discourse analysis of text from the perspective
of Michael Halliday's (1994) Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL).
Systemics 1.0 is designed to be used for both academic and postgraduate
research and also for the teaching of SFL in undergraduate and postgraduate
courses. However, as the pre-programmed grammar in Systemics 1.0 can be
modified, the discourse analyses undertaken with this software can
incorporate other theoretical perspectives.
The physical constraints of using SFL for text analysis are overcome
through the following features in Systemics 1.0:
1. The options within the major systems for interpersonal,
experiential, logical and textual meaning at the rank of word, word
group/phrase, clause, clause complex, paragraph and text have been
pre-programmed in Systemics 1.0 as the 'standard' functional grammar. This
means that the analysis may be manually coded quickly and efficiently
through pulldown menus. The generic structure of the text may also be
manually coded.
2. The search facility allows the user to extract the results of the
analysis for each system at each rank. This includes extracting the
functional elements from the text.
3. The pages in Systemics 1.0 containing the analysis (the text
divided into numbered clauses, the tables with the clause analysis, the
logical relations, exchange structure, reference chains and lexical strings
together with the search results) may be printed. There is also a print
preview application called GhostView included with Systemics 1.0.
4. The user may modify the existing 'standard' systemic functional
grammar by entering new options and systems according to individual
requirements. This new grammar may be included in Systemics 1.0 to analyse
one text, or it may be saved as a separate grammar file to be used later
for the analysis of other texts.
5. There is an additional version, SystemicsBIG, in the Software
folder on the CDROM. This version has double sized fonts for all the text
and menus so that it will be useful for teaching and demonstrations in
lecture theatres. When installing the software, SystemicsBIG can be
installed using the custom installation.
FUNCTIONALITY of Systemics 1.0
1. Systemics 1.0 operates on Macintosh, PC and Linux computers, and
the CD ROM contains complete documentation about how to use the software.
2. Systemics 1.0 converts word processing documents saved as texts
files into database files for storing the analysis.
3. The analysis is entered using pulldown menus containing the options
for the pre-programmed systems.
4. Systemics 1.0 has the following Pages:
ï Text Page displays the text as a sequence of numbered clauses. In this
page, the generic structure and the speaker may be entered. The clauses
are edited in this page, and these changes are reflected all other pages.
ï Clause Page displays the analysis at the rank of word, word group and
clause. Clause Page contains two tables: (i) the Clause Table to enter the
functional label for each element in the clause, and (ii) the Analysis
Table to code the nature of the selections made in the Clause Table.
ï Interclausal Page displays the analysis for logical relations and
exchange structure at the rank of clause complex, paragraph and text.
ï Discourse Page displays the analysis for reference chains and lexical
relations at the rank of paragraph and text.
ï Search Page is used to extract the results of the analysis and functional
elements to which labels have been attached.
ï Grammar Page contains a glossary for the abbreviations used in the
'standard' grammar together with references for further reading. A
condensed version of this glossary is reproduced in the "System Key
Abbreviations and Glossary" in the documentation. The grammar may be
modified by the user in the Grammar Page (see point 5 below)
5. The Grammar Page contains the facility whereby the user can modify
existing options and systems in the 'standard' grammar. The user may save
these changes in the existing grammar to be used with the current database
file, or alternatively the changes may be saved in a separate grammar file
which may be used later with other database files.
6. The grammar in Systemics 1.0 can be changed in multiple ways to
suit the requirements of the user. These changes include:
(a) Adding, deleting and editing the available options in the existing
systems in the 'standard' functional grammar in the Clause, Interclausal
and Discourse Pages.
(b) Entering new systems in the Clause, Interclausal and Discourse Pages.
(c) New systems appear as new rows in the existing tables in the Clause
page, and as new interfaces accessed through menus in the Interclausal and
Discourse Pages.
7. The database may be searched according to any criteria through
which the analysis has been entered. The user may select how the results
are displayed through a menu of options.
8. The pages in Systemics 1.0 can be printed to a file which may be
previewed using Ghostview software. The appearance of the pages may be
chosen using Print options. These include saving the files as ps or eps
files. The files can be printed using a postscript printer.
2. COST
List price: SGD $60 (SGD $42 for registered students in Singapore)
applicable within Singapore/ASEAN only.
Elsewhere: US $45*/AUD $65**
Add 10% postage and handling for orders outside Singapore.
*Add US $15 bank charge for foreign cheque payment.
**Applicable in Australia with credit card payment only.
Credit cards accepted are VISA, American Express and MasterCard.
Special Discounts for orders 20+ copies and/or site licenses are available
for computer laboratories and libraries.
Singapore: S$1,000 for 20 CDs/licenses, S$40 for every additional copy/license.
International : US$700 for up to 20 CDs/licenses, US$50 for every
additional copy/license.
Other bulk purchases: discounts on normal list prices available on enquiry,
depending on volume.
3. ORDERS
Singapore University Press
Yusof Ishak House,
National University of Singapore
31 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119078
Fax: (65) 6774-0652
Ph: (65) 6776-1148
E-mail address (for orders and enquiries): [log in to unmask]
Internet website address: http://www.nus.edu.sg/SUP/
4. FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT Systemics 1.0
Dr Kay O'Halloran
Department of English Language and Literature
National University of Singapore
Block AS5
7 Arts Link
SINGAPORE 117570
Tel: +65 6874 3999
Fax: +65 6773 2981
Email: [log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
NOTE: For information about software for SFL, see Mick O'Donnell's website:
http://www.wagsoft.com/Systemics/
Dr Kay O'Halloran
Department of English Language and Literature
National University of Singapore
Block AS5
7 Arts Link
SINGAPORE 117570
Tel: +65 874 3999
Fax: +65 773 2981
Email: [log in to unmask]
WWW: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/ell/faculty.htm
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Aidan Coveney
University of Exeter
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