Developing a Bilingual Thesaurus of Information Studies

Defining requirements, evaluating applications, and testing functionality

Defining requirements

Basically• add terms• definitions• sources• bilingual• link equivalencies• multiple terms and definitions• preferred and variant terms

But also• online• searchable• multiple contributors• free/open source• not just A-Z• contextualized, related to

concepts• faceted, hierarchy, ontology

Evaluating applications

Round one1. TermWiki2. OmegaT3. Transiterm4. ForeignDesk5. Google Translation Tool6. Wikispaces7. Document in Google Drive8. Blackboard9. Database-driven website

Glossary software – not versatile enoughWiki – too unstructuredRelational database – too much workThesaurus software – only one open source option, others too costly

Round two10. a.k.a.11. Thesaurus Builder12. Thesaurus Master13. Synaptica14. Pool Party15. MultiTes16. TemaTres

Testing functionality

Strengths• easy to add terms and notes• can subordinate and link terms• can create candidate terms• can add internal notes• online• searchable• supports images• specify complete or partial match• handle complex equivalences

Quirks• two types of account• two types of multilingual thesaurus

Limitations• unusual interface• not much to look at• lack of documentation• French skin poorly translated• separate accounts for each

vocabulary• no backup maintained

Testing functionality

one-to-oneAnglais (Langue)—Manuels pour allophonesCSH: English language—Textbooks for second language learners one-to-manyCouverture en patchworkLCSH: QuiltsLCSH: Afghans (Coverlets) many-to-oneCanadiennes françaisesCanadiens d’origine françaisCanadiens françaisCSH: Canadians, French-speaking

Exact equivalence: Eye (MeSH) = Eye (LCSH)

Notes required to specifyLexical variant: Bicuspid (MeSH) = Bicuspids (LCSH)Syntactic variant: Liver Regeneration (MeSH) = Liver—Regeneration (LCSH)Single-to-multiple equivalence: Neoplasms (MeSH) = Cancer and Tumors (LCSH)No equivalent: Night Blindness (MeSH) = ? (LCSH)

Culling concepts from source documents

ISI6310 ETHICS, VALUES AND INFORMATION DILEMMAS (3cr.)An exploration of major ethical concerns currently confronting our information society. The course examines the moral and ethical values involved in information and technology-related situations faced by today’s information professionals and agencies, and provides an opportunity to apply ethical theories to situations involving issues such as freedom of expression, censorship, intellectual property rights, equitable access, and privacy.

ISI6710 ÉTHIQUE, VALEURS ET DILEMMES RELATIFS À L'INFORMATION (3cr.)Exploration des principales questions d’éthique qui se posent à notre société de l’information. Le cours examine les valeurs morales et éthiques qui entrent en jeu pour les professionnels de l’information et les agences d’information lorsqu’ils font face à certaines situations ayant trait à la technologie et au domaine de l’information. Il offre la possibilité d’appliquer les théories de l’éthique à des contextes touchant divers enjeux, comme la liberté d’expression, la censure, les droits de propriété intellectuelle, l’accès équitable à l’information et la vie privée.

Course descriptions

Core competencies

2. Information Resources

2A. Concepts and issues related to the lifecycle of recorded knowledge and information, from creation through various stages of use to disposition.

2B. Concepts, issues, and methods related to the acquisition and disposition of resources, including evaluation, selection, purchasing, processing, storing, and deselection.

2C. Concepts, issues, and methods related to the management of various collections.

2D. Concepts, issues, and methods related to the maintenance of collections, including preservation and conservation.

Application(intended / potential)

Perspective(lens / orientation /

discipline)

OutputMethodology Phenomenon

Social/Cultural/LinguisticTechnologicalAdministrative

PedagogicalCognitive science

StatisticsProfile

Best practiceTemplate

MethodologyToolboxSchemaModel

Software

Systems designProcess designFacilities design

LearningSocial marketing

Political mobilizationCitizen engagement

Observation (behaviour, etc.)Inquiry (motive,

opinion, etc.)Content analysisVector analysis

Transaction analysisProcess analysis

Computer simulation

Information objectInformation agent

Information processInformation systemInformation facility

Research agenda

candidate term A term under consideration for admission into a controlled vocabulary because of its potential usefulness. Also known as provisional term.category A grouping of terms that are semantically or statistically associated, but which do not constitute a strict hierarchy based on genus/species, parent/child, or part/whole relationships. See also tree structure.classification scheme A method of organization according to a set of pre-established principles, usually characterized by a notation system and a hierarchical structure of relationships among the entities.

Course materials

controlled vocabulary A list of terms that have been enumerated explicitly. This list is controlled by and is available from a controlled vocabularyregistration authority. All terms in a controlled vocabulary must have an unambiguous, non-redundant definition.

Source: National Information Standards Organization. (2005). Guidelines for the construction, format, and management of monolingual controlled vocabularies (ANSI/NISO Z39.19-2005).

Constructing the thesaurus “backbone”

Using the thesaurus in the ÉSIS program

Course assignments– adding terms, definitions, English/French equivalencies– designating preferred and non-preferred terms– critiquing/ modifying structure (facets/hierarchies)– indexing documents using terms from the thesaurus

Faculty research– adding terms and definitions from research projects

Curriculum review/development– analyzing program scope and coverage of concepts– balancing coverage of English and French sources

http://vocab.rdc.uottawa.ca/