Terminology Model II

Bringing human language and data modeling closer together is an important step in modeling real world phenomena in IT applications. For this purpose, the terminology model provides a conceptual and structured terminology definition.

Defining a terminology model is based on principles of expressing and structuring human knowledge. The principles have been derived from the way knowledge is expressed in human language, since this has been turned out to be the best practice for hundredth of years.

Concept and feature are the key terms for defining terminology models, where a number of concepts and its features are defined. In order to provide detailed terminology definitions, concepts and features are assigned to several categories (concept or feature categories).

The "Terminology Model II" is the continuation of work that has been represented in "Terminology Model I" [TM]. In order to provide more precise definitions, several extensions have been made in the model structure.

The paper consists of three parts. The first part introduces the main concepts the terminology model deals with (problem analysis). The second part provides complete definitions and explanations for all concepts referred to in this paper (structuring concepts) and the third part provides a detailed definition of these concepts as structured terminology model (defining details). Thus, the paper not only defines the terminology model as such, but is an example also for developing a terminology model starting with high level problem analysis, i.e. the paper is doing exactly what it is describing.

In order to bring together terminology and data modeling, terminology standards as described in ISO 1087 and ISO 704 [1087] are referred to as terminological source, where concepts and concept relations have been defined in order to build concept systems. The ODMG Object Database Standard 2003 [ODMG] is used as base for object database modeling, since this approach is more advanced as the Entity Relationship Model. Unified Database Theory [UDT] is referred to as detailed definition of data items, instances and collections and representation of data in different levels of database models.

Further on, the acronym TM will be used when referring to Terminology Model II as model or as paper.

A terminology model is a mean for recording and presenting expert knowledge of a certain area. TM provides both, a method for discovering subject expert knowledge and a structured and formalized presentation of expert knowledge.

TM is a method for describing expert knowledge within a certain subject field, which covers two aspects:

• Terminology aspect - defining used concepts (term, meaning, usage etc.) in a subject field
• Model aspect - provides a formal structured presentation of concepts, which fulfills basic requirements of a database schema

The goal of TM on the one hand is, to provide detailed definitions and, on the other hand, to support all phases of an IT application development process. Thus, the TM also acts as interface between subject area experts and IT technicians.

Since the goal of TM is providing structured knowledge representation, the paper investigates knowledge concepts and principles for expressing knowledge by means of human language.

The paper will finally end up in a rather complex structure for TM, but many relevant knowledge aspects are covered by a few TM concepts. Hence, different TM levels will be defined, which can be used for different purposes or in different development stages.