1) Structure of the start page (after clicking the red “Search ” button):

  • Top left: Selection of ALD-I or ALD-II.
  • In the same line, on the right: always accessible buttons for the functions “Search” (red), “Maps” (green), “Questionnaire” (blue), “Speaking atlas” (violet), and language selection.
  • Below, in the centre, above the input window: choice between three transcription systems (Normal characters, ALD-Light, ALD-Standard).
  • Below, in the centre, underneath the input window: select the position of the search nexus to be entered in the respective word.
  • Left-hand window (default setting before the actual search):
  • Top line: selection (to display the existing occurrences) from three transcription systems (Normal characters, ALD-Light, ALD-Standard).
  • Left column “Single token”: contains all isolated (“single token”) or combined (“total entry”) items of ALD-I or ALD-II in alphabetical order (A-Z or Z-A).
  • Bottom line of the left column: shows – depending on the selected transcription system – the numbers of the visible and total of the items (for ALD-I: > 45 000 – > 102 000 items; for ALD-II: approx. > 78 000 – > 170 000 items).
  • Right-hand column “Frequency”: displays the frequency of all these items (freely adjustable arrangement: small → large, large → small).
  • Bottom line: choice of the display mode: as a single token (single word) or as a word group (e.g. article + noun etc.)
  • Right-hand window: to specify the coordinates of the individual or combined token found (= numbers and titles of the maps, items found in each case, numbers and names of the survey points etc.).

2) Test using the ALD-I and the search nexus moron:

  • Setting the transcription system (→ top header [centre] and at the top of the left-hand window): normal characters.
  • Enter the search nexus (→ in the input window): moron (in normal characters).
  • Select the position of the search nexus (→ below the input window): Beginning of word.

3) Result of search A (before clicking on one of the items found):

  • In the left window: three (partly red) forms: morona, morone, morones.
  • Click on the top form morona (with 13 occurrences).

4) Result of search B (after clicking on one of the items found):

  • In the right-hand window: list of all 13 forms found (for ALD-I, map 128 [of the printed work], la catena).
  • In the column on the far right: note that the items found are located in the atlas and not in one of the supplement volumes.

5) Continuation with a targeted listening:

  • Click on one of the 13 lines of the right-hand window.

6) Result:

Opening of a white window with some (always blue) sonagrams and four operating buttons below (here: in red).

  • The longest of the operating buttons shows the number [according to the ALD-I questionnaire: → 105], the Italian equivalent (→ la catena), and the transcription published in ALD-I (→ ALD-Standard).
  • This listening switch is linked by default to a specific sound sequence via the settings visible on it, but this does not necessarily match the specified question. In such a case, one must search for the correct sound sequence with the mouse arrow along the sonogram. However, this can usually be done quite easily.
  • Note: in ALD-I, the question 105 (la catena) of the questionnaire corresponds to map 128 of the published atlas (→ white listening window, top left).
  • When listening, a red horizontal bar moves from left to right along the sonogram. It is always in the middle of a grey square and can be moved or repositioned at any time using the mouse arrow. This ensures a very precise match between the displayed transcription and the sound being listened to.
  • During playback, the relevant sound sequence can be listened to again (or as often as required) by precisely resetting the red crossbar with the mouse arrow. In this way, the mouse arrow can be used to trigger precise listening over the entire length of the sonogram.

7) Continue by looking at the relevant atlas map (here: ALD-I, map 105 [of the questionnaire] la catena):

  • Click on the red icon “To map” at the bottom left.

8) Result:

Map 128 of ALD-I appears in its original form (as visible in the printed work), but all the items (noted in ALD-Standard) found on this map for the search nexus moron appear in red.

  • Note: the coordinates of this map are displayed in the centre of the lower bottom of the screen.
  • Possibility to zoom in by turning the mouse wheel and to move the map freely.

9) Listen to the acoustic equivalent of one of the transcriptions visible on the map:

  • By clicking on the transcription of acoustic interest.

10) Result:

A white window appears with only one column: in the first line, you may find the transcription previously clicked on. In the lines below the magnifying glass symbol, all other items available at this inquiry point (transcribed according to the ALD-Standard) are listed in alphabetical order A to Z, Z to A).

  • Quantities: ALD-I: > 1450 hits; ALD-II: >1700 hits.
  • Click on the transcription in the first (= top) line.

11) Result:

Opening of a white window with one (for ALD-II) or more (for ALD-I) blue sonagrams and the respective listening switches below (all in red).

  • See point 6!
  • Note: the white windows that open here on the ALD-II contain much more information than on the ALD-I. These consist of lists (downloadable as PDF) with transcriptions (according to ALD-Standard) sorted according to various criteria (→ order of the numbers of the inquiry points, → progressive and reverse alphabet). The icons of these PDFs are always marked in blue and can be clicked on.

12) Return to the relevant atlas map:

  • Click on the “To map” icon at the bottom left.

13) New listening:

  • Proceed as described under 9.