Query words
Basics
Searching for a specific phenomenon (e.g. Spanish spirantization; realization of rhotics)
In order to run a search for a given phenomenon, it is necessary to determine the relevant phonemic or orthographic string. For example, to investigate the range of possible realizations of the Spanish voiced dental stop, you could select either /d/ under 'Target phoneme' or <d> under 'Target grapheme'. Then, you could specify whether to look at the segment in intervocalic position (where spirantization may occur) or in clusters. In order to obtain a list of the former realizations, it would be necessary to select 'V' as both preceding and following segment. In order to retrieve the segment in clusters, you would need to select 'C' for the preceding or following segment.
Advanced searches
Controlling for linguistic variables
If, as opposed to obtaining all the words illustrating a specific phenomenon, you are interested only in sounds preceded and followed by a specific phoneme/grapheme, then select the target phoneme/grapheme and specify the preceding and following phoneme or grapheme.
Controlling for speaker variables
The preceding search can be limited further by controlling for speaker variables (language variety, sex). For example, you can obtain all the words illustrating a specific phenomenon uttered by female speakers of a particular variety (e.g., for French, France or Quebec). In order to do so, select your linguistic variables, and then under speaker variables, select ‘French – France’ or French – Quebec’ (under ‘Language/Variety Language’) then select 'female' (under 'Sex').
Query passages
Basics
Retrieving all passages in a given language
In order to get all the passages that have been recorded in a given language, simply select the language and begin your query. You will obtain all the passages, both for native speakers and L2 learners (English only).
Advanced searches
Retrieving passages by controlling the speaker variables
Language variety, speaker sex, and, in the case of English, L1 versus L2 status, can be controlled in order to obtain a subset of the passages. For example, if you interested in comparing the passages obtained for female native speakers of Argentine and Cuban Spanish, select both ‘Spanish – Argentina’ and ‘Spanish – Cuba’ (under ‘Language’) – to do this, you will need to hold the Control (‘Ctrl’) key (PC) or Command (‘’) key (Mac) while selecting both options – then chose ‘female’ (under ‘Speaker variables/Sex’).