An Investigation of the Grammar Matrix, AGGREGATION Project, and LING 567 in the Context of Value Sensitive Design

Abstract

In this paper, I explore the possible impacts of the Grammar Matrix and AGGREGA- TION project within the contexts of how they are used in the University of Washington’s grammar engineering class (LING 567) and how they could be used outside of the classroom, as well as tak- ing into account datasets that make up the AGGREGATION data repository. I use methods from value sensitive design, doing a stakeholder analysis (on both direct and indirect stakeholders) and detailing value scenarios that highlight societal implications of technology using Matrix-produced grammars. I conclude that stakeholders, like speakers and linguists, should be more involved in the grammar engineering process when they want to be and that the AGGREGATION data needs to be better documented in order for the interests of language communities to be better represented.