Root words (Stemming)

Topics of Interest other than Bible Analyzer
Post Reply
darrel_jw
Posts: 279
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2015 3:38 am

Root words (Stemming)

Post by darrel_jw »

Can someone help me understand how to use this option in the MCP? Does it apply to English words, Greek and/or Hebrew. I did a test. I searched for "looking" with Root Words checked and it returned all variations of "look". But then I did a search for "carried" and it returned all occurrences of "carri" but that is not the root of "carried". I tried searching on Greek and Hebrew words with Root Words checked and it only returned the Greek and/or Hebrew word I entered in the search string. Am I missing something?

Darrel

Tim
Site Admin
Posts: 1454
Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:14 pm

Re: Root words (Stemming)

Post by Tim »

The Root Word Search uses an algorithm that tries to break down the word to find the root. As you found it only works well for words that have the root spelled correctly within it. The only other way would be to use a matching table. A table that would match "carry" with the root of "carried." I don't know that any exist for the Bible words.

The best way to find the roots is to enter the root with a wildcard character (i.e. "carr*"). This will find all words that start with the string. One can use Regular Expressions for more detailed searches if he is familiar with them.

I added the root option for users who are not familiar with wildcards. It will not work with Hebrew or Greek words.
Tim Morton
Developer, Bible Analyzer

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Rom 4:5 AV)

Post Reply