Extending Utility of Language Grid through Language Grid Toolbox

Abstract

This thesis explores Language Grid, a multilingual service platform, to increase the accessibility, customizability and usability of language services. It enables easy registration and sharing of language resources such as online dictionaries, morphological analyzer, and machine translations. It allows users to freely combine existing language services to develop new services so that users can easily create their own communication tools for their community as per their requirements. Many intercultural collaboration tools have been developed using Language Grid such as Language Grid Toolbox, Newsletter and Playground etc. Language Grid Toolbox, intercultural collaboration tools of Language Grid, is a multilingual tool which can be easily accessed through any web browser. It is a support system for the intercultural communication which offers a unique interface and increased usability.

Further thesis analyzes the features of Language Grid for intercultural collaboration and an effort is made to extend Language Grid Toolbox in which currently translation services among 15 languages are configured. Firstly, Toolbox is extended by performing extension and translation of terminology of Language Grid Toolbox by adding a dictionary service to the Language Grid Toolbox site, containing 400 words in English language and Hindi Language by using a dictionary service. Secondly, by enriching Q&A feature of Language Grid toolbox by adding various technical questions and answers to the Q&A Web Interface of the Toolbox by exploring Toolbox site adding questions and answers to the site by following the procedure on the site. These Q&A are verified and validated by the site administrator and are made available to all users whether registered to the site or not.