Alexandru Timotin, Florin Teodor Tãnãsescu * Structures for a Thesaurus of Technical Terminology

Table 1. A concept tree and retained types

1. entity								[retained type symbol]
	1.1. abstract entity						[ G ]
		general notion, theory
		logical or mathematical concept 
		symbol / image / theoretic model
	1.2. natural entity						[ F ]
		1.2.1. phenomenon / class of phenomena
		1.2.2. natural object
			substance / composite matter
			natural component / part
			natural system
		1.2.3. natural process
			elementary act / effect
			natural transformation / evolution
			interaction
			complex natural process
	1.3. technical entity
		1.3.1. fabricated object
			material					[ M ]
			component					[ C ]
			device, machine, equipment, technical system	[ P ]
		1.3.2. technical activity
			action / elementary				[ A ]
			operation sequence / technical process		[ T ]
			technical transformation / signal
			work technique / conception / design
			fabrication technology, know-how
			measuring or test technique			[ E ]
	1.4. social-economic entity					[ S ]
		social systems and sub-systems
		social-economic process
		services / rules / agreements / standards
2. property / feature (of a  concept of any type)			[ Q ]
	not ordered property / quality / feature;
	ordered property /  quantity / number
	set of attributes / state / configuration
	relation (as an attribute of a pair of concepts)
3. others  (unclassified above)						[ R ]

3.2. Multirelational structure

The multirelational structure of a concept thesaurus, proposed here is based on a set of hierarchical binary relations, defined by five basic ascendant ones:

1.	The species - genus (specific) relation	with acronym SG and graphic symbol < G
2.	The property - entity (attributive) relation	with acronym QE and graphic symbol < E
3.	The derived - originating (derivative) relation	with acronym DO and graphic symbol < O
4.	The part - totality (meronimic) relation	with acronym PT and graphic symbol < T
5.	The restricted - larger (restrictive) relation	with acronym RL and graphic symbol < L

The SG, PT and RL - noted also NB (narrow-broad) –relations, with some peculiarities, are often used in many thesauri used for documentary research. The QE relation is frequently used in the technical terminology (attaching a feature to an object or to a process). The DO relation is useful in the scientific definition technique (for relating a concept to an originating one of a different type [3]).

Any of the five ascendant relations can be a priority one (§3.2.2), its symbol being a double angular open bracket << . Considering the descendant inverse relations as well, twenty distinct hierarchical relations will exist.

On the other hand, a group of four associative binary relations - connecting related concepts that cannot be subordinated under any circumstances - will be proposed:

1.	The simple association	with acronym AA and graphic symbol <->
2.	The definitional association	with acronym DD and graphic symbol < | >
3.	The antonymy	with acronym NN and graphic symbol > <
4.	The quasi-synonymy (strong association)	with acronym QQ and graphic symbol <=>

108