Voyant

Voyant is a tool for analyzing text using a type of machine learning called natural language processing. Digital texts can be copied and pasted (for shorter texts) or uploaded (for longer texts or multiple texts at once) to the interface and Voyant provides tools to analyze them for characteristics such as word frequency or distribution, as well as offering multiple means of visualizing the results, such as word clouds, graphs, and tables.

Visit Voyant

Useful for…

Pros

• Easy to get started
• Provides attractive visualizations with little skill required
• Can be used in/for many languages other than English

Cons

• Some texts may need to be reviewed or formatted for the most effective analysis
• Finding the right tools for the desired analysis may take trial and error
• Students may not be able to interpret results on their own without preparation

Learning Curve

Simple use requires very little time to master, but more complex interpretive goals require a corresponding amount of depth in terms of learning the ins and outs of Voyant.

Operating System

This is a browser-based tool and can be accessed on any internet-enabled device, though it is most effective on a larger screen.

Accessibility

Though this is a simple tool, it was not developed with accessibility in mind. Students who use a screen reader will find it difficult to navigate the site.

Cost

Free.