Textual and logical definitions in ontologies

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We discuss the structure and functions of definitions and axioms in ontologies from the perspective of a terminologist and logician respectively. By working through a few examples of the correspondence between parts of the textual definitions and the axioms, we show how to compare and contrast each and how each perspective reveals areas for improvement. Having established a correspondence between the textual and logical parts of ontology term definitions, we discuss the possibility of developing tools that help developers improve their ontologies. Such tools could be used to check both the textual definitions against the asserted axioms and vice versa. In addition, we propose a few other ways of checking the contents of textual definitions.

Keywords

  • Checking definition contents
  • Functions of definitions in ontologies
  • Logical definitions
  • Natural language definitions
  • Ontologies
  • OWL axioms
  • Problems in definitions
  • Recommendations for definitions in ontologies
  • Terminology
  • Textual definitions

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Textual and logical definitions in ontologies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this