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

The terms (names) of the concepts of a specialized (technical) language are often complex syntagms, referred here as complete names. In given contexts which allow the ignoring of ambiguities, only a part of the complete name, called alternate form, is normally used. That is why the optional parts of the complete name, which can be omitted, are put in (round) parentheses. For example, the complete name

(intensity of) (electric) current

indicates the possibility of the usual alternate (shortened) forms: electric current or only current. But the list of terms will also contain the alternate forms with unilateral reference

(electric) current -> (intensity of) (electric) current
current [electric] -> (intensity of) (electric) current

The inverse references, like (intensity of) (electric) current -> current [electric], are not necessary, being redundant: the parentheses of the complete form indicate the possibility of the shorter ones.

To avoid homonyms, all terms have to be formally distinct. Homonyms can be distinguished one from the other by adding to the usual form of the terms some complements:

1. If possible, especially when the homonyms have close meanings, the name can be supplemented with fragments put between parentheses, as optional parts of the complete name of the concept. Examples:

   attenuation coefficient (of a radiation)
   attenuation coefficient (of a transmission line)

2. In other cases, the addition is a very short comment, put between brackets, often preceded by a ranking number. This comment and the associated number are not parts of the complete name. Examples:

   terminal, 1 [connection point]
   terminal, 2 [component]
   terminal, 3 [equipment]

Table 2. The semantic vicinity of a high-level concept

(not displayed explanations)

switchgear and controlgear	*441, 277, 466,517	(English descriptor + references to sources)
F: appareillage			*441, 277, 466, 517 	(French descriptor + references to sources)
R: aparataj (electric)		LTR			(Romanian descriptor + references )
   <<L Switching and Controlling Equipment		(larger area concept:  Sub-Domain)
   < G electrical equipment				(proximate genus)
   < O control, 2 [of an equipment]			(originating concept: function)
   < O isolation [of an electrical equipment]		(originating concept: function)
   < O protection, 2[of power systems]			(originating concept: function)
   < O switching, 1[general meaning]			(originating concept: function)

	<-> control device				(associated concept)
	<-> protective device				(associated concept)
	<-> switching device				(associated concept)  

	   >>S controlgear				(species: functional aspect)
	   >>S switchgear				(species: functional aspect)
	   >>S indoor switchgear and controlgear	(species: installation aspect)
	   >>S outdoor switchgear and controlgear	(species: installation aspect)
	   >>S low-voltage switchgear and controlgear	(species: work voltage aspect)
	   >>S high-voltage switchgear and controlgear	(species: work voltage aspect)
	   >>S (mechanical) switch			(species: constructive aspect)
	   >>S electronic (power) switch		(species: constructive aspect)
	   > S fixed apparatus				(species: mobility aspect)
	   > S mobile apparatus				(species: mobility aspect)
	   > S movable apparatus			(species: mobility aspect)
	   > S portable apparatus			(species: mobility aspect)

	   >>Q ambient air temperature			(property: characteristic quantity)
	   >>Q breaking capacity			(property: characteristic quantity)
	   > Q rated conditional short-circuit current	(property: characteristic quantity)
	   > Q rated normal current			(property: characteristic quantity)
	   >>Q time-current characteristic		(property: characteristic curve)

	   >>R fuse					(restricted-area concept: optional device)
	   >>R segregation (of conductors)		(restricted-area concept: struct. disposal)
	   >>R separation (of conductors)		(restricted-area concept: struct. disposal)
	   >>R dielectric test
	      (of switchgear and controlgear)		(restricted-area concept:test)
	   >>R switchboard				(restricted-area concept: annex)

	   >>D assembly (of switchgear and controlgear)	(derived concept: apparatus set)

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