diff --git a/R/inspect_language.R b/R/inspect_language.R
index b89a135..5766c9f 100644
--- a/R/inspect_language.R
+++ b/R/inspect_language.R
@@ -3,18 +3,20 @@
 #' @param data_conv conversation dataset
 #' @param data_tokens tokens dataset
 #' @param lang language
+#' @param returnplots boolean indicating whether plots should be made
 #' @param saveplot should the plot be saved
 #' @param allsources all sources
 #'
 #' @export
 inspect_language <- function(data_conv,
-                             data_tokens,
-                             lang,
+                             data_tokens = NULL,
+                             lang = NULL,
+                             returnplots = FALSE,
                              saveplot=FALSE,
                              allsources=FALSE) {
   # conversation data
   dp <- data_conv |>
-    dplyr::filter(language == lang)
+    dplyr::filter(.data$language == lang)
 
   nturns <- sum(!is.na(dp$FTO)) # QUESTION: does this make sense?
 
@@ -23,34 +25,60 @@ inspect_language <- function(data_conv,
   pC <- plot_turn_duration(data=dp)
   pD <- plot_top_turn_types(data=dp)
 
-  # token data
-  dt <- data_tokens |>
-    dplyr::filter(language==lang)
-  nwords <- dt$total[1]
 
-  pE <- plot_token_rank(data=dt, nwords)
 
-  # combine the plots
-  top_row <- cowplot::plot_grid(pA,pB,pC,labels=c("A","B","C"),rel_widths = c(1,1,1),nrow=1)
-  bottom_row <- cowplot::plot_grid(pD,pE,labels=c("D","E"),rel_widths = c(1,1),nrow=1)
-  panel <- cowplot::plot_grid(top_row,bottom_row,ncol=1)
-  print(panel)
+  if(!is.null(data_tokens)){
+    # token data
+    dt <- data_tokens |>
+      dplyr::filter(.data$language==lang)
+    nwords <- dt$total[1]
+    pE <- plot_token_rank(data=dt, nwords)
+  }
 
-  if(saveplot) {
-    filename <- paste0('qc-panel-',lang,'.png')
-    ggplot2::ggsave(filename,bg="white",width=2400,height=1200,units="px")
+
+  # generate plots
+  if(returnplots){
+    if(!is.null(data_tokens)){
+      generate_plots(saveplot, pA, pB, pC, pD, pE)
+    } else {
+    generate_plots(saveplot, pA, pB, pC, pD, pE = NULL)
+    }
   }
 
   # sample conversation
   data_convplot <- prepare_convplot(data_conv, lang)
-  pconv <- plot_conversation(data_convplot)
-  print(pconv)
+
+  if(returnplots){
+    pconv <- plot_conversation(data_convplot)
+    print(pconv)
+
+  }
 
   # print summary stats
   report_summaries(data_conv, lang, allsources)
 }
 
 
+generate_plots <- function(saveplot = FALSE, pA, pB, pC, pD, pE){
+  # combine the plots
+
+    if(is.null(pE)){
+    top_row <- cowplot::plot_grid(pA,pB,labels=c("A","B"),rel_widths = c(1,1),nrow=1)
+    bottom_row <- cowplot::plot_grid(pC,pD,labels=c("C", "D"),rel_widths = c(1,1),nrow=1)
+  } else{
+    top_row <- cowplot::plot_grid(pA,pB,pC,labels=c("A","B","C"),rel_widths = c(1,1,1),nrow=1)
+    bottom_row <- cowplot::plot_grid(pD,pE,labels=c("D","E"),rel_widths = c(1,1),nrow=1)
+  }
+
+  panel <- cowplot::plot_grid(top_row,bottom_row,ncol=1)
+  print(panel)
+
+  if(saveplot) {
+    filename <- paste0('qc-panel-',lang,'.png')
+    ggplot2::ggsave(filename,bg="white",width=2400,height=1200,units="px")
+  }
+}
+
 
 
 
diff --git a/man/inspect_language.Rd b/man/inspect_language.Rd
index 58aed64..921e928 100644
--- a/man/inspect_language.Rd
+++ b/man/inspect_language.Rd
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 \usage{
 inspect_language(
   data_conv,
-  data_tokens,
-  lang,
+  data_tokens = NULL,
+  lang = NULL,
+  returnplots = FALSE,
   saveplot = FALSE,
   allsources = FALSE
 )
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ inspect_language(
 
 \item{lang}{language}
 
+\item{returnplots}{boolean indicating whether plots should be made}
+
 \item{saveplot}{should the plot be saved}
 
 \item{allsources}{all sources}