Abstract
Terminology management is part and parcel of many knowledge applications. Due to their
availability in electronic formats, terminological databases are now used in a way that
surpasses their traditional role as terminological dictionaries for human users.
In this paper we explain how the method of termontography, developed at CVC Brussels,
can be used in the development of specialised terminological resources. Termontography is a
multidisciplinary approach in which theories and methods for multilingual terminological
analysis (based on sociocognitive terminology theory) are combined with methods and
guidelines for ontology engineering. A clear distinction is made between conceptual
modelling at a language-independent level and a language and culture specific analysis and
description of discourse-related units of understanding. Some critical issues are raised
concerning the feasibility and limits of next generation terminological resources. Examples
will be given of how the limitations of particular tools for taxonomy and ontology building
(e.g. Protégé, Ontoterm) in combination with (multilingual and multicultural) terminology
description force us into questioning some of the basics of terminology theory and knowledge
representation theory.
We will raise some issues on the evolution and dynamics of meaning and understanding
starting from terminological records i.e. units of description in terminology management and
moving towards flexible and multidimensional units of understanding. The theoretical
considerations are supported by examples from case studies that were executed in several
projects at CVC Brussels.
availability in electronic formats, terminological databases are now used in a way that
surpasses their traditional role as terminological dictionaries for human users.
In this paper we explain how the method of termontography, developed at CVC Brussels,
can be used in the development of specialised terminological resources. Termontography is a
multidisciplinary approach in which theories and methods for multilingual terminological
analysis (based on sociocognitive terminology theory) are combined with methods and
guidelines for ontology engineering. A clear distinction is made between conceptual
modelling at a language-independent level and a language and culture specific analysis and
description of discourse-related units of understanding. Some critical issues are raised
concerning the feasibility and limits of next generation terminological resources. Examples
will be given of how the limitations of particular tools for taxonomy and ontology building
(e.g. Protégé, Ontoterm) in combination with (multilingual and multicultural) terminology
description force us into questioning some of the basics of terminology theory and knowledge
representation theory.
We will raise some issues on the evolution and dynamics of meaning and understanding
starting from terminological records i.e. units of description in terminology management and
moving towards flexible and multidimensional units of understanding. The theoretical
considerations are supported by examples from case studies that were executed in several
projects at CVC Brussels.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the LSP conference |
| Pages | 265-277 |
| Number of pages <span style="color:red"p> <font size="1.5"> ✽ </span> </font> | 12 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
| Event | Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet - Stockholm, Sweden Duration: 21 Sep 2009 → 25 Sep 2009 |
Publication series
| Name | Proceedings of the LSP conference |
|---|
Conference
| Conference | Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Stockholm |
| Period | 21/09/09 → 25/09/09 |
Keywords
- ontology
- termontography
- terminology