> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ldaca.gitbook.io/metadata-for-language-data/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ldaca.gitbook.io/metadata-for-language-data/defined-terms/annotation.md). # Annotation The resource includes material which adds information to some other linguistic record. This term is an expected value of the property:\ [materialType](/metadata-for-language-data/properties/materialtype.md) This term is included in the defined term set:\ [MaterialTypes](/metadata-for-language-data/defined-term-sets/materialtypes.md) This class will have an [annotationType](/metadata-for-language-data/properties/annotationtype.md) as a property. This class is the same as OLAC [annotation](http://www.language-archives.org/REC/type-20020628.html#annotation). The OLAC page linked above has the following comment:\ 'A linguistic annotation is defined as structured linguistic information that is explicitly aligned to some spatial and/or temporal extent of some other linguistic record.' \ This allows for the possibility that an annotation can be aligned with the entire extent of a linguistic record, but it is more common that annotations are linked to portions of the linguistic record. In principle, this could mean each annotation (each piece of information aligned to part of a linguistic record) being stored separately. But common practice is to store all annotations of a particular type together, or even to store several types of annotation in a single document or file, treating them as distinct tiers. Various software tools (e.g. [ELAN](https://archive.mpi.nl/tla/elan)) have implemented this structure for annotations. This schema treats any information added to a [PrimaryMaterial](/metadata-for-language-data/defined-terms/primaryresource.md) as annotation. [Transcription ](/metadata-for-language-data/defined-terms/transcription.md)can be considered the paradigm case. A recording of spoken language is a PrimaryResource; a Transcription is a written representation of aspects of the original record and the parts of the Transcription are aligned with parts of the recording by, for example, use of time codes or assignment of utterances to speakers. An example of several types of annotation being brought to together is aligned interlinear text (also [interlinear glossing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlinear_gloss)), a common medium for the presentation of language material. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://ldaca.gitbook.io/metadata-for-language-data/defined-terms/annotation.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.