In search for an appropriate tool for the humanities

In Search for an Appropriate Tool for the Humanities


René Bauer, Stefan Hofer and

Imre Hofmann

www.textmachina.uzh.ch


In Search for an Appropriate Tool for the Humanities www.textmachina.uzh.ch

Programme of the Workshop

1. Presentation of the participants

2. Presentation of the problem at stake: The need of an appropiate digital tool for the Humanities

3. Presentation of „a possible solution“ (tEXtMACHINA)

4. Plenary discussion on specific methods

5. Plenary discussion on existing technologies

6. Group discussion on digital tools for the Humanities

7. Plenary session and conclusion



A. The Humanities have an object of research (data) of their own: meaningful „text“ in a broad sense

B. This specific object implies specific methods: analysis and interpretation in a scientific community

C. New Media offer a lot of relevant digital technologies.

D. There is no tool that implements the crucial methods of the Humanities with these technologies.


2. A) The Humanities have an object of research of their own: „text“

By „Text“ we mean any kind of object that needs to be read or interpreted because of meaningful nature.


2. B) This specific object implies specific methods: professional reading in a scientific community

Quantitative and qualitative analysis

Semiotic and hermeneutic Interpretation: dialectic feedback between holistic assumption and detailled examination

Intertextual contextualization: references, intertexts

Discourse Analysis: Institutions, frequencies and order

Dialogical discourse in the scientifc community


2. C) New Media offer a lot of relevant digital technologies

Digital text processing (scientific writing)

Quantitative and statistical analysis (counting, comparing, analysis of frequencies and correlations)

Manual analysis (marking, highlighting, annotating)

Hyperreferencing and commenting

Knowledge organization, accessing and archiving

Research and publishing

Dialogical collaboration with peers


2. D) We miss tools...

...that combine these technologies in order to implement the crucial methods of the Humanities.


3.) „A possible Solution“: tEXtMACHINA

Online simulation of the collaborative discoursive research practices of the Humanities.


4.) Plenary discussion on specific methods for the Humanities (5‘)

Quantitative and qualitative analysis

Semiotic and hermeneutic Interpretation: dialectic feedback between holistic assumption and detailled examination

Intertextual contextualization: references, intertexts

Discourse analysis: institutions, frequencies and order

Dialogical discourse in the scientifc community

WHAT ELSE?


5.) Plenary discussion on existing technolgies (5‘)

Digital text processing (scientific writing)

Quantitative and statistical analysis (counting, comparing, analysis of frequencies and correlations)

Manual analysis (marking, highlighting, annotating)

Hyperreferencing and commenting

Knowledge organization, accessing and archiving

Research and publishing

Dialogical collaboration with peers


6.) Group discussion on digital tools for the Humanities (25‘)

What are the requirements of such a tool and how should it look like?

Do we know such tools?



René Bauer, Stefan Hofer and

Imre Hofmann


[email protected]


In search for an appropriate tool for the humanities

Technology

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