Semantic interoperability : Theoretical Considerations
Martin Doerr · 2004
The achievement of semantic interoperability is a complex task, which affects multiple levels and functions of information systems and the information process. In this section, we propose a systematic requirements analysis of the different constituent functions necessary to achieve overall semantic interoperability in a DL environment. We begin with a clarification of terminology that tends to be inconsistently used between the computer science and the libraries community. 1. Terminology We propose here one possible definition for each term for the purpose of this document. An exhaustive survey e.g. of definitions of “ontology” may be interesting but not very useful in order to make the intended meaning of this report more clear to the reader. From a knowledge representation perspective, concepts can be divided into universals and particulars. The fundamental ontological distinction between universals and particulars can be informally understood by considering their relationship with instantiation: particulars are entities that have no instances in any possible world; universals are entities that do have instances. Classes and properties (corresponding to predicates in a logical language) are usually considered to be universals. (after Gangemi et al. 2002, pp. 166-181). E.g., “Person” or “A being married to B” are universals. John, Mary and “John is married to Mary” are particulars. General nouns and verbs of a natural language can be regarded to describe universals (polysemy not withstanding), whereas names describe particulars (Steven Pinker describes the distinction of general nouns, verbs and proper names as innate functions of the human brain).