TextGrid

A TextGrid is a file format used primarily for labeling and annotating speech data. It is commonly associated with the Praat software, a widely used tool for phonetic analysis. The format is designed to represent time-aligned annotations organized into tiers or levels. Each tier can represent a different kind of information, such as words, phonemes, or speaker turns.

A TextGrid file essentially consists of a header section containing metadata (e.g., the minimum and maximum time of the audio file, the number of tiers) and a data section specifying the boundaries and labels of each segment on each tier.

TextGrid files can contain two main types of tiers:

• IntervalTiers: These tiers represent intervals of time. Each interval is defined by a start time, an end time, and a text label. They are suitable for representing segments with distinct boundaries, such as words or syllables.

• PointTiers: These tiers represent specific points in time. Each point is defined by a time value and a text label. They are often used to mark events, such as clicks or other non-segmental features.

The hierarchical structure of TextGrid allows for multiple layers of annotation to be associated with the same audio file. This makes it possible to represent complex linguistic information in a structured and easily accessible manner.

TextGrid files are plain text, making them relatively easy to parse and manipulate using scripting languages. This facilitates automated analysis and processing of annotated speech data. The format is widely supported by other speech analysis tools and libraries, enabling interoperability across different software platforms.