Data sharing and standardization in Linguistics
Abstract Linguistic typology stands to gain significantly from advances in the use of extremely large, high-quality and reusable datasets. However, our ability to secure these gains depends on the availability of precise and comparable machine-readable data. Here we identify the challenges and opportunities ahead. We introduce the DeAR principles (Decentralized, Automatically verified, Revisable), designed to guide and assist researchers to create diverse, high-resolution and robust datasets. We demonstrate the DeAR principles in action through the example of Paralex, a data standard (i.e., set of scientific conventions) developed collaboratively for lexicons of morphologically inflected forms. Our proposals aim to foster a more resilient and equitable infrastructure for the future of linguistic research.
Authors
- Helen Sims‐Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9895-5435)
- Erich R. Round (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7533-8052)
- Robert Malouf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5716-321X)
- Matías Guzmán Naranjo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1136-6836)
- Farrell Ackerman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0168-9372)
- Jeff Parker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8976-1193)
- Borja Herce (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9493-6656)
- Greville G. Corbett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2667-9870)
- Theodorus Fransen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5639-8626)
- Sacha Beniamine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2584-3576)
- Cormac Anderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0126-3841)
- Olivier Bonami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0688-3855)
- Matteo Pellegrini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4378-5824)
- Jules Bouton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7368-1064)
- Mae Carroll (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8419-0539)
- Andrea Sims (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0239-3050)
- Dunstan Patrick Brown (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8428-7592)
Institutions
- Brigham Young University (US)
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- San Diego State University (US)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- University of California San Diego (US)
- Laboratoire de Linguistique Formelle (FR)
- University of Bergen (NO)
- University of York (GB)
- The Ohio State University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Linguistic Typology
- Published
- 2026-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1515/lingty-2025-0083
- Primary Topic
- Research Data Management Practices
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- Leverhulme Trust
- European Commission
- H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions