Layers and attributes

Layers are the backbone of what makes APLS so powerful. They organize annotations into structured linguistic data, allowing you to search the corpus for complex patterns and export information about linguistic phenomena. Since layers belong to transcripts, you can see layer annotations in context when you view a transcript.

Related to layers are attributes: metadata about individual transcripts or participants in APLS (e.g., when an interview was recorded, a participant’s gender). Attributes aren’t nearly as complicated as layers, but you can use them for filtering which participants/transcripts you want to search, and you can export attributes just like you export layer annotations.

The pages in this section break down how layers and attributes work:

1. A typology of layers with the fundamentals of how layers work (such as the difference between word layers and segment layers) and how you can interact with them in APLS.
2. A rundown of layer notation systems so you can decode the symbols that different layers use, such as the DISC phonemic alphabet.
3. A typology of attributes that breaks down how attributes work.
4. Detailed field guides that contain all the information you need to know about each layer and attribute.
5. Quick reference cards that are useful for refreshing your memory about how each layer and attribute works.

As a reminder, text formatted with a dotted underline, like dictionary_phonemes, refers to a layer or attribute. If you hover over a layer/attribute name, a tooltip will pop up with a short description of the layer/attribute. Clicking on the name will load its field guide entry.