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 one 1.TermWiki 2.OmegaT 3.Transiterm 4.ForeignDesk 5.Google Translation Tool 6.Wikispaces 7.Document in Google Drive 8.Blackboard 9.Database-driven website Glossary software – not versatile enough Wiki – too unstructured Relational database – too much work Thesaurus software – only one open source option, others too costly Round two 10.a.k.a. 11.Thesaurus Builder 12.Thesaurus Master 13.Synaptica 14.Pool Party 15.MultiTes 16.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-one Anglais (Langue)Manuels pour allophones CSH: English languageTextbooks for second language learners one-to-many Couverture en patchwork LCSH: Quilts LCSH: Afghans (Coverlets) many-to-one Canadiennes françaises Canadiens dorigine français Canadiens français CSH: Canadians, French-speaking Exact equivalence: Eye (MeSH) = Eye (LCSH) Notes required to specify Lexical variant: Bicuspid (MeSH) = Bicuspids (LCSH) Syntactic variant: Liver Regeneration (MeSH) = LiverRegeneration (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 todays 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 déthique qui se posent à notre société de linformation. Le cours examine les valeurs morales et éthiques qui entrent en jeu pour les professionnels de linformation et les agences dinformation lorsquils font face à certaines situations ayant trait à la technologie et au domaine de linformation. Il offre la possibilité dappliquer les théories de léthique à des contextes touchant divers enjeux, comme la liberté dexpression, la censure, les droits de propriété intellectuelle, laccès équitable à linformation 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) Output Methodology Phenomenon Social/Cultural/Linguistic Technological Administrative Pedagogical Cognitive science Statistics Profile Best practice Template Methodology Toolbox Schema Model Software Systems design Process design Facilities design Learning Social marketing Political mobilization Citizen engagement Observation (behaviour, etc.) Inquiry (motive, opinion, etc.) Content analysis Vector analysis Transaction analysis Process analysis Computer simulation Information object Information agent Information process Information system Information 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 vocabulary registration 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 Z ).

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