Project Details
Projekt
Computational Methods for the Reconstruction and Comparative Analysis of Mythical Erzählstoffe
Applicant
Professorin Dr. Caroline Sporleder
Subject Area
General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
Term
from 2020 to 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 235014259
The Individual Project Digital Humanities (TP DH) extends the database model, Digitale Kartographie mythischer Stoffe, designed in Phase 1 of the Research Unit (RU) 2064 STRATA for the identification and registration of hylemes by transforming it from a passive data repository into a central virtual research environment (VRE). On the process level, this VRE functions as the essential interface for all participating projects (TP), delivering an essential methodological contribution to the comparative, trans-cultural work of the RU 2064 STRATA.TP DH has the following objectives:(a) to expand the Digitale Kartographie mythischer Stoffe compiled in phase 1 together with the data to be generated in phase 2 through computational methods and, by doing so, to facilitate the qualitative analysis of data too large and complex to be processed manually;(b) to develop bespoke algorithms for content-based and semantic comparisons of mythical hylemes and hyleme sequences, as well as the visualization of their similarities and differences;(c) to accelerate the identification of hylemes through the semi-automatic extraction of hylemes from texts, with the aim of generating a more substantial data pool for the comparative analysis of mythical Erzählstoffe.To this end, the TP DH broadly supports the work of the RU 2064 STRATA and enables individual projects: (i) to explore the mythical Erzählstoffe in the broadest possible terms and with the greatest attention to detail;(ii) to study them in direct comparison with the Erzählstoffe of the other projects;(iii) to enjoy the added value of a comparative visualization of the data, both within and across projects.The head of the TP DH contributes her own research background in computational semantics and text mining to the RU and utilizes it to support the RU with state-of-the-art technological solutions for its Erzählstoff-analytical model for the study of myths while also providing innovative thematic impulses. The TP DH will moreover benefit from the cooperation with national and international experts in computational analysis of texts and narratives.TP DH will communicate its progress on the Digitale Kartographie mythischer Stoffe and the analyses obtained with it, as well as their influence on the production of knowledge, through the following measures:(1) the online presence of the virtual research environment;(2) an open source publication of the virtual research environment as part of the toolbox in the DARIAH-DE repository;(3) peer-reviewed research papers in the areas of computational linguistics and digital humanities;(4) a research paper on theory and methodology for the joint volume on themes and methods (Themen- und Methodenband) and a synthesis for the Living Handbook of Mythology.
DFG Programme
Research Units
