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EDCS Definitions

Steve Carson

GSC Associates

for JTC 1/SC 24 WG 8 Palm Springs, CA USA

August 2001

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What WD 5 says about definitions

• 4.2.1 Definitions The definition field of an EDCS Dictionary Entry is a precise statement of the nature, properties, scope or essential qualities of the concept embodied in the entry. Definitions in this International Standard are concise and references are used whenever necessary to provide more extensive specifications of the concept being described.

• A set of guidelines is given in 4.13.2 Guidelines for definitions for registered items

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Guidelines – part 1a. A definition shall be provided for each EDCS Dictionary

Entry. This definition shall contain at least one word, number, expression or formula.

b. Definitions shall be clear and concise, containing only the content necessary to express the concept.

c. Complete sentences shall be used except when a single word or phrase is unambiguous.

d. A single sentence shall be used except when multiple sentences are necessary to add significantly to the clarity and completeness of the definition.

e. Definitions shall be unambiguous and worded to clearly express a single concept.

f. Where a set is being defined, the phrase "a set of" shall be used (e.g., "a set of indicator lights").

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Guidelines – part 2

g. Jargon shall not be used.

h. Abbreviations shall not be used.

i. Acronyms may only be used if they have been defined in Table 3.2 Acronyms.

j. If an acronym has been defined in Table 3.2 Acronyms then it shall be used wherever the phrase would have appeared. That is, the phrase shall not be used except in Table 3.2 Acronyms; wherever the phrase might have appeared, the acronym shall be used instead.

k. No units of measure shall be abbreviated.

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Guidelines – part 3

l. Unit symbols shall not be used (e.g., use "metres per second", instead of "m/s").

m. References shall not be embedded in definitions with one exception. Where a reference is used not as the source of a definition, but rather to define the format of an EA whose EDCS Attribute Value Type is STRING, that reference may be part of the definition.

n. Definitions shall be atomic, self-contained and independent of all other EDCS Dictionary Entries in the same EDCS Dictionary with one exception. A definition may intentionally express a composite of other concepts, if those concepts are individually defined within the same EDCS Dictionary.

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Guidelines – part 4

o. When a composite concept is defined (that is, the concept is the union of other, more primitive concepts in the same EDCS Dictionary), the definition shall be a clear and concise integration of the definitions of the other concepts. In this case, an additional sentence identifying the more primitive concepts shall be included.

p. Definitions shall be unique within the same EDCS Dictionary.

q. Units of measure should not be used in EC EDCS Dictionary Entries.

r. Units of measure shall not be used in ES, EQ, EO, or EG EDCS Dictionary Entries.

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Conflicting goals

• Consistency of the EDCS as a whole vs. exactly copying a normatively-referenced definition from an authoritative source.

• Quality and consistency demanded of an ISO standard vs. definitions from informal and not widely vetted specifications.

• Consistency within a set of definitions (such as enumerants) vs. taking a dictionary definition when it suffices.

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Problems with definitions

• Unnecessary definitions: Terms are defined when the dictionary definition suffices

• Too much in a definition: More than “only the content necessary to express the concept” used in many cases

• Definition structure problems

These problems are illustrated with examples on following slides.

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Unnecessary definitions

• Proposed in a comment in WD5: ALUMINUM: A highly ductile, malleable and conductive element, atomic number 13, that is resistant to corrosion and wear, and is widely used in alloys for beverage cans, household utensils, aircraft and automobile parts, electrical equipment, and many other products.

• NSOED definition: Aluminum: A light silvery ductile malleable metal not readily tarnished by air, which is a chemical element, atomic number 13, (symbol Al).

What is in the NSOED suffices. ALUMINUM should be defined as “Aluminum.”

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Too much in a definition – part 1

• Proposed in a comment in WD5: ALUMINUM: A highly ductile, malleable and conductive element, atomic number 13, that is resistant to corrosion and wear, and is widely used in alloys for beverage cans, household utensils, aircraft and automobile parts, electrical equipment, and many other products.

The part in italics should not be part of the definition. (But note that the word “aluminum” alone

is a sufficient definition!)

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Too much in a definition – part 2

• PRECIPITATION_REGION: A region where precipitation is occurring (e.g., rain, snow, and hail), over land or water.

• RUINS: The deteriorated remains of an unspecified structure.

The parts in italics are unnecessary.

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Definition structure problems

• GRASS_LAND: A tract of land covered by uncultured plants that have little or no woody tissue, e.g., grass.

• Better wording: A tract of land covered by grass and/or other uncultured plants that have little or no woody tissue.

• In this case the dictionary (NSOED) definition is: grassland: (an area of) land covered with grass, especially as used for grazing, so we want the more precise, technical definition.

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Proposal on definitions

• Check NSOED. Where the definition there suffices, remove any other definition in the EDCS and use just the word(s) as defined by the NSOED as the definition.

• Correct excessive and unnatural use of e.g. in many definitions.

• EC and EA definitions should “stand alone” (except as they deliberately refer to other definitions.)

• Assume that EE definitions are interpreted in contextEA FISHING_FACILITY_TYPE with EE TUNA_NET

Definition that includes context: A fishing facility that employs nets, spread out under the water surface, to catch tuna fish.

Definition assuming context: Nets, spread out under the water surface, are used to catch tuna fish.

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When is a dictionary definition sufficient?

• There is only a single definition (so there is no ambiguity about which of multiple meanings we intend in EDCS)

• The EDCS is not using the word(s) with some specialized, technical meaning.