Interlinear gloss layout

users
#1

Explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlinear_gloss

One idea I have is to set centre-align tabs (hoping the distance
between each tab set isn't too far for short words or too close for
long words), use a line-break at the end of each line except the
bottommost which would use a paragraph break with ample spacing below
the paragraph and/or a line to separate each group of lines. (This
would require using a tab between each word instead of a space.)

The only other idea I have would be to use a table which would allow
me to use a paragraph break to enter the details under the original
text and then use a tab to move to the next cell, but I'd probably
need one table per group of lines and constantly insert/delete cells
as needed — which seems like a lot of layout work.

Any better ideas? Any existing templates?

#2

On Thu, 12 Sep 2013 14:12:04 -0500
"T. R. Valentine" <trvalentine@gmail.com> dijo:

Explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlinear_gloss

One idea I have is to set centre-align tabs (hoping the distance
between each tab set isn't too far for short words or too close for
long words), use a line-break at the end of each line except the
bottommost which would use a paragraph break with ample spacing below
the paragraph and/or a line to separate each group of lines. (This
would require using a tab between each word instead of a space.)

The only other idea I have would be to use a table which would allow
me to use a paragraph break to enter the details under the original
text and then use a tab to move to the next cell, but I'd probably
need one table per group of lines and constantly insert/delete cells
as needed — which seems like a lot of layout work.

Any better ideas? Any existing templates?

As a linguist I need to do this frequently. In the past I have just set
up a zillion tabs at a tenth of an inch apart. I saved this to a style
that I based on my default style, so the gloss style provides the same
appearance as regular text, except for the tabs.

However, you suggested center alignment for the tabs, which doesn't
make sense to me. Don't you want the left edge of each morpheme lined
up with the left edge of the word on the gloss line?

I should also add that Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) has a
plugin or extension or something for LO/OO that says it is supposed to
do this. I can't remember what it's called, and I have never tried it.
For religio-political reasons I keep my distance from SIL.