KWICtype
KWICtype, short for KeyWord In Context, is a type of index or concordance that lists words or phrases along with the sentences or passages in which they appear. The term "KWIC" was coined by Hans Peter Luhn in the 1950s, and it has since become a fundamental tool in information retrieval, linguistics, and text analysis. The primary characteristic of a KWIC index is that the keyword or key phrase is centered, with the surrounding context displayed on either side. This format allows users to quickly identify the context in which a word or phrase is used, making it particularly useful for linguistic research, literary analysis, and the study of language patterns.
KWICtype indices can be generated manually or automatically using specialized software. Manual creation involves reading through
The structure of a KWIC index typically includes the keyword or key phrase, followed by the preceding
KWICtype indices are widely used in various fields, including computational linguistics, digital humanities, and information science.