LangDex

Language Documentation

3,000+ languages are endangered. Field linguists collect lexicons in FLEx, Toolbox, or spreadsheets that sit on hard drives inaccessible to communities or other researchers. LangDex provides the infrastructure layer: upload documentation, connect to the Glottolog tree, discover cognates in related languages, and export in CLDF for archival.

The Challenge

The Documentation Silo Problem

  • 1Field data lives in FLEx databases, Toolbox files, or Excel sheets—formats that don't interoperate or enable discovery
  • 2Community members can't access their own language: data locked in academic servers behind institutional logins
  • 3Grant-funded projects end, PIs retire, hard drives fail—documentation disappears with no institutional persistence
  • 4No infrastructure connects endangered language data globally: researchers can't discover related documentation
  • 5Revitalization projects start from zero instead of building on existing lexicons, paradigms, and audio recordings
The Solution

Interoperable Documentation Infrastructure

LangDex accepts uploads from FLEx, Toolbox, CSV, and standard field formats. Each lexeme links to Glottolog's 27K languoid tree, enabling automatic discovery of cognates in related languages via shared PanLex concepts. Communities access their language through web interfaces. Researchers discover connections. Archives export to CLDF. Documentation outlives individual projects.

Features

Key Capabilities

Glottolog Positioning

Every upload positioned in the 27K-node languoid tree. Dialects inherit from parent languages. Geographic and genealogical metadata attached.

Cognate Discovery

Uploaded lexemes link to PanLex concepts. Automatic flagging of potential cognates in related languages for comparative analysis.

Audio-Linked Lexicons

Attach pronunciation recordings to lexical entries. Preserve phonetic detail beyond IPA transcription.

Community Interfaces

Web-accessible dictionary and learning tools for speaker communities. No institutional login required.

CLDF Export

Export documentation in Cross-Linguistic Data Format. Compatible with ELAR, Kaipuleohone, and major archives.

Revitalization Bootstrap

Generate flashcards, pronunciation guides, and learning materials directly from documented lexicons.

Who Is This For

Perfect For

ELDP/ELAR-funded documentation projectsIndigenous language programs (First Voices, AILLA)Field linguists with FLEx/Toolbox dataCultural preservation NGOsUniversity language archivesCommunity language revitalization centersEndangered Languages Project contributorsHeritage language programs

Ready to Get Started?

Join our waitlist to get early access to LangDex's API and start building.