Anchoring searches

Some layers contain annotations that can span multiple words or can include multiple annotations per word. These layers allow you to “anchor” your search pattern to match the beginning or the end of that layer’s scope using the lock icons (shown as unlocked when not active and locked when active ).

The following phrase layers layers have anchoring as their only search parameter:

  • turn
  • utterance

To search for the word “yes” occurring at the beginning of speaker turns:

  1. Go to the Search page.
  2. Select the timing project in the layer picker and click the checkbox for the turn layer to make the turn pattern input appear.
  3. Click the lock on the left side of the turn pattern input.
  4. Enter yes into the orthography input box.
  5. Click the Search button.
    • To compare this with the number of results for “yes” without turn layer anchoring, click the lock again to turn off anchoring and click the Search button.

The following span layers have pattern inputs that are like the orthography layer, with the addition of anchoring options:

  • comment
  • noise

The following segment layers also support anchoring to the beginning or end of words:

  • segment
  • foll_segment

To find matches for every instance of /s/ followed by /t/ that occurs at the end of words:

  1. Go to the Search page.
  2. Select the segment layer in the selection menu to make the segment pattern input appear.
  3. Click inside of the segment box to make another segment pattern input appear.
  4. Enter s in the first segment input box and t in the second segment input box.
  5. Click the lock on the right side of the segment pattern input.
  6. Click the Search button.