Old dialect words through the ages – the ABCs of dialect project

Language is subject to constant change. The use of words can change across generations, just as the meaning of words can change over the years. The FWF Top Citizen Science project “The ABCs of Dialect” aims to transcribe and reflect old dialect words contained on the more than 100-year-old paper slips of the Dictionary of Bavarian Dialects in Austria (WBÖ). On the one hand, historical data is digitally processed, analysed and made accessible via the Zooniverse platform; on the other hand, interested citizens should be inspired to rediscover their linguistic and regional heritage. A crowdsourcing approach enables more extensive processing and transcription of the materials, while in a special reflection section citizens simultaneously reflect on and discuss the use and meaning of the classified words.