Seminar 5 Relations between concepts, concept systems for micro-domains

Through intellectual processes such as abstraction and conceptualization, objects are categorized
into classes or models called concepts, distinguishable from one another by sets of characteristics. In
terminology research, concepts are named or designated by terms, and identified by sets of characteristics,
sometimes called semantic features. Thus, in terminology, knowledge structures are sets of interrelated
concepts.
There are two types of relationships: hierarchical and non hierarchical ~ associative
Hierarchical relationships
Narrower Term (NT): if X is a NT of Y, then X is narrower in some sense than Y. For example, milk NT cow
milk, grain NT rice.
Broader Term (BT): if Y is a BT of X, then X is broader than Y; for example cow milk BT milk, rice BT grain. BT
is the inverse of NT.

There are two types of hierarchical relationships: generic-specific and part-whole. Hierarchical relationships
are those most frequently used to structure knowledge.
Generic-Specific Hierarchies
In generic-specific relationships, the characteristics of superordinate concepts (broader concepts) are
inherited by subordinate concepts (narrower concepts).

Partitive Hierarchies (Part-Whole) (meronym vs holonym)

In a partitive relationship, there is no inheritance of characteristics between the whole and its parts.
Associative relationships
Related Term (RT): the thesaurus conceptual model contains the RT relationship to express any kind of
associative relationship between two terms that is not a hierarchical relationship. This relationship is hence
very ambiguous in that it is the default for all other relationships.
Hierarchical (NT, BT) and associative (RT) relationships are relationships between concepts. In the
thesaurus, these exist only between descriptors.
Some thesauri (e.g. AGROVOC) distinguish between descriptors and non-descriptors (often referred to
imprecisely as preferred terms and non-preferred terms). The rationale behind this is that only a descriptor
should be used when referring to the concept (for example, for indexing and retrieval); each descriptor
uniquely and unambiguously designates a concept. (http://www.fao.org/3/af234e/af234e02.htm)

TASK 1. What type of relations can you identify in the following examples:
a. ceramic floor tile – dust pressing
b. glazed ceramic flooring, ceramic flooring
c. clay – ceramic floor tiles
d. ceramic tiles – glazing
e. dry glazing – glazing
f. tiles – furnace / kiln
g. heating/firing – porosity
h. clay minerals – ceramic tiles

How can concept relations be represented graphically?

The following images, taken from the CODE Graphical Browser, show two representations of concepts
with Generic-Specific (S), Meronymic (Part), and Non-hierarchical (Device) Links (ap I. Meyer, K. Eck and D.
Skuce in Systematic concept analysis within a Knowledge-Based Approach to Terminology, WRIGHT/BUDIN
1997:110) The task of building such systems and structures primarily rests with knowledge engineers and
specialists of each field. However, terminologists must familiarize themselves with this kind of work and be
able to use such classifying information in the first stages of any terminology-related research.
Code Graphical browser showing concepts with Generic-Specific (S), Meronymic (Part), and Non-hierarchical
(Device) links.
The tree diagram is used to represent generic concept relations (taken from ISO/FDIS 704, 2000: VII):

The rake or bracket diagram is used to represent partitive concept relations (taken from ISO/FDIS 704,
2000: VII):

Various descriptors can be fit in one representation:

Associative and Spatial Relationships in Thesaurus-based RetrievalHarith Alani, Christopher Jones, Douglas
Tudhope
TASK 2. Examine the rake diagrams below and determine which one reflects the most logical structuring of a
small subset of knowledge in the broad subject of medicine.
a. b.

c. d.

TASK 3. Do research and fill in the empty boxes with other concepts in the same system; indicate the
specific and generic terms; using the classifications in Lecture 5, indicate the type of relations between the
terms.

TASK 4. Do research on the topic and use one of the first two manners of representation systems (or
another one of your choice, using SmartArt Graphic in Insert) to represent the system (identify the system
first!) as presented in the following text:
“Obligaţia de a calcula şi plăti ecotaxa de 0,2 lei/bucată revine operatorilor economici care
introduc pe piaţa naţională pungi având mânere integrate sau aplicate, de tip sacoşă-banană
sau maiou, oricare ar fi destinaţia şi modul de comercializare / distribuire a acestora” (MMDD
nr.1607/2008)

REMEMBER! Concept systems are not always identical between any given pair of languages. Through
terminology research, concepts may be matched where possible, and equivalent terms can then be
identified. A comparison of the concept systems, together with the process of term identification, may
reveal gaps in one or the other of the languages under study, and the creation of equivalent terms may be
required to ensure the proper transfer of specialized knowledge between language communities as well as
effective communication among members of the language communities involved. (from Pavel Terminolgy
Tutorial)

TAKEAWAY TASK. Reflect and comment on the following statement and its consequences for translators
cum terminologists.
The terminology of a field shall not be an arbitrary collection of terms. (Terminology work — Principles
and methods, ISO 704/2000)