wilhelm-vocabulary / README.md
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Add German conjugation instruction
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Wilhelm Vocabulary
==================
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The data that serves [wilhelmlang.com](https://wilhelmlang.com/). They are written in YAML format, because
1. it is machine-readable so that it can be consumed quickly in data pipelines
2. it is human-readable and, thus, easy to modify
3. it supports multi-lines value which is very handy for data of natural languages
[German](./german.yaml)
-----------------------
### YAML Schema
```yaml
vocabulary:
- term: string
definition: list
plural: string
declension/conjugation: application-specific table
```
- The `conjugation` is the inflection paradigm for a German verb and `declension` the inflection for nouns and
adjectives. Only one of the two is present for a term.
- The type of the word can be inferred using the following rule
- `term` with a _definite article_ of __der__/__die__/__das__ signifies a __noun__. For instance
```yaml
- term: die Wissenschaft
definition: the Science
```
- Those with `conjugation` field denotes a __verb__; its definition also begins with an _indefinite form_, i.e.
"to ..."
- The rests are explicitly stated in the `definition` field. For example,
```yaml
- term: ob
definition:
- (conj.) if
- (conj.) whether
```
means "ob" is a **conjunction** in this case and
```yaml
- term: denn
definition:
- (adv.) then, thus
- (conj.) because
```
tells that "denn" can be __adverb__ or __conjunction__
> [!TIP]
>
> The parenthesized value at the beginning of each `definition` item played an un-ignorable role: it is the label of the
> relationship between `term` and `defintion` in graph database loaded by
> [Wilhelm SDK](https://github.com/QubitPi/wilhelm-graphdb-python). For example, both German words
>
> ```yaml
> - term: denn
> definition:
> - (adv.) then, thus
> - (conj.) because
> ```
>
> and
>
> ```yaml
> - term: nämlich
> definition:
> - (adj.) same
> - (adv.) namely
> - (adv.) because
> ```
>
> can mean "because" acting as different types. This is visualized as follows:
>
> ![error loading example.png](./example.png)
>
> __Visualzing synonyms this way presents a big advantage to human brain__ who is exceedingly good at memorizing
> patterns
### German Noun Declension
The declension table employees an [application-specific YAML](https://stackoverflow.com/q/30894438/14312712) that looks like the following:
```yaml
- term: ein
definition: (article) a, an
declension:
- ["", masculine, feminine, neuter, plural]
- [nominative, ein, eine, ein, N/A ]
- [genitive, eines, einer, eines, N/A ]
- [dative, einem, einer, einem, N/A ]
- [accusative, einen, eine, ein, N/A ]
```
The declension table above is equivalent to
| | masculine | feminine | neuter | plural |
|:--------------:|:---------:|:--------:|:------:|:------:|
| __nominative__ | ein | eine | ein | N/A |
| __genitive__ | eines | einer | eines | N/A |
| __dative__ | einem | einer | einem | N/A |
| __accusative__ | einen | eine | ein | N/A |
> [!NOTE]
> - A list under `declension` is a table row
> - All rows have the same number of columns
> - Each element of the list corresponds to a table cell
> [!TIP]
> __The declension tables for all nouns are sourced from
> [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ein#Declension_2)__
### German Verb Conjugation
There are __3__ persons, __2__ numbers, and __4__ moods (indicative, conditional, imperative and subjunctive) to
consider in conjugation. There are __6__ tenses in German: the present and past are conjugated, and there are four
compound tenses. There are two categories of verbs in German:
[weak and strong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_strong_verb)[^1]. In addition,
[strong verbs are grouped into 7 "classes"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_strong_verb#Strong_verb_classes)
[^1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_verbs#Conjugation
The conjugation table of German verb on Wiktionary is hard to interpret as a German language learner. It does, however,
presents a very good Philology reference. For example, it tells us which of the 7 "classes" a strong verb belongs to.
__We, therefore, leave the Wiktionary links to the conjugation table of that verb for data processing in the future__,
for example,
```yaml
- term: aufwachsen
definition: to grow up
conjugation: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/aufwachsen#Conjugation
```
and advise user to employ a much more practical method to learn daily conjugation as follows. We take __aufwachsen__ as
an example.
> [!IMPORTANT]
> I'm not advertising for any organizations. I'm simply sharing good resources.
[Netzverb Dictionary](https://www.verbformen.com/) is the best German dictionary _targeting the vocabulary inflection_.
[Search for "aufwachsen"](https://www.verbformen.com/?w=aufwachsen) and we will see much more intuitive conjugation
tables listed.
This pretty much serves our needs, but what makes Netzverb unpenetrable by other dictionaries is that _every_ verb comes
with
1. [A printable version that looks much better than the browser's Control+P export](https://www.verbformen.com/conjugation/aufwachsen.pdf)
- A "Sentences with German verb aufwachsen" section with a
[link](https://www.verbformen.com/conjugation/examples/aufwachsen.htm) that offer a fruitful number of conjugated
examples that get us familiar with the inflections of the verb
2. [An on-the-fly generated flashcard sheet](https://www.verbformen.com/conjugation/worksheets-exercises/lernkarten/aufwachsen.pdf)
which allows us to make a better usage of our random free time
3. [A YouTube video that offers audios of almost every conjugated form](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCtUrSn030A),
which helps with conjugated pronunciations.
[Korean](./korean.yaml)
-----------------------
中国人学习韩语有先天优势,加之韩语本身也是一门相当简单的语言,所以这里将语法和词汇合并在一起;
每一项也只由 `term`(韩)和 `definition`(中)组成,
```yaml
vocabulary:
- term: string
definition: list
```
不用费太多功夫记牢简单的语法和词汇,剩下的就是拿韩语字幕剧不停练习听说读写既成。
Classical Hebrew (Coming Soon)
------------------------------
The vocabulary is presented to help read and understand [Biblical Hebrew](https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt00.htm#mp3). A
[complementary audio](https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/ptmp3prq.htm) helps well with the pronunciation.
[Ancient Greek](./greek.yaml)
-----------------------------
```yaml
vocabulary:
- term: string
definition: list
```
[Latin](./latin.yaml)
---------------------
```yaml
vocabulary:
- term: string
definition: list
```
License
-------
The use and distribution terms for [wilhelm-vocabulary]() are covered by the [Apache License, Version 2.0].
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