LINGUIST List 14.1399

Thu May 15 2003

Software: Leximancer: Text and/or Content Analysis

Editor for this issue: Karen Milligan <karenlinguistlist.org>

Directory

  • Peter Hollands, Leximancer

    Message 1: Leximancer

     Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 14:11:30 +1000
    From: Peter Hollands <p.hollandshumanfactors.uq.edu.au>
    Subject: Leximancer


    Having an interest in linguistics you will no doubt have some interest in the analysis of text and/or content-analysis. A software tool has been developed at the University of Queensland in Australia that makes such analysis a whole lot easier.

    Leximancer is a software tool capable of objectively analysing the content of text simply, quickly and effectively. Unlike other systems, Leximancer requires no hand-coding and performs its analysis completely automatically by extracting the semantic networks contained within the document set, otherwise known as unsupervised ontology discovery.

    Leximancer also differs by not relying on parsing as its analytical base, using instead mathematical and scientific calculations based on the Bayesian approach to prediction. Such an approach has produced a system capable of working just as effectively in any of the European languages.

    Any number of different lines of enquiry may be followed depending on the needs of the user. Those interested in mapping or classifying documents with customised concepts may use hand-coding to configure the analysis any way they choose, providing an extraordinary level of customisation.

    Leximancer succeeds by recognising the major issues or concepts within the text and represents them both on an interactive map as well as in tabular form. This map allows the analysts or researcher to explore the background data on which each relationship is based. Each concept is positioned in such a way as to graphically highlight its relationship with each and every other concept, such juxtapositions even permitting the discovery of relationships that may otherwise remain hidden.

    To achieve this level of analysis, several novel algorithms were developed including a learning optimiser for automatically selecting, learning and adapting a concept from the word usage within the text, and an asymmetric scaling process for generating a cluster map of concepts based on co-occurrence in the text.

    Leximancer is now in use in universities throughout Australia, with a number of State government departments and with clients in the UK, the USA and Italy.

    Contact details:

    The product was developed at the: The Key Centre for Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology The University of Queensland St Lucia Brisbane Qld 4172

    Leximancer is offered through: Uniquest Pty Ltd Research Road The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld 4172

    Ph: 3365 7196

    http://www.leximancer.com/

    Peter Hollands Consulting & Industry Liaison Manager The Key Centre for Human Factors & Applied Cognitive Psychology at the University of Queensland 07 3365 7196