SIST ISO 16642:2018

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16642
Second edition
2017-11
Computer applications in
terminology — Terminological
markup framework
Applications informatiques en terminologie — Plate-forme pour le
balisage de terminologies informatisées
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Modular approach . 4
5 Generic model for describing terminological data . 5
5.1 Principles . 5
5.2 Generic representation of components and information units . 6
5.3 The metamodel . 8
5.4 Example .10
6 Requirements for compliance to TMF .11
7 Interchange and interoperability .12
8 Representing languages .12
9 Defining a TML .13
9.1 Steps .13
9.2 Defining interoperability conditions .13
10 Implementing a TML .13
10.1 General .13
10.2 Implementing the metamodel .13
10.3 Anchoring data categories on the XML outline .14
10.3.1 General.14
10.3.2 Styles and vocabulary .14
10.4 Constraints on datatypes .15
10.5 Implementing annotations .15
10.6 Implementing brackets .15
Annex A (informative) Conformance of terminological data to TMF: example scenario .16
Bibliography .21
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Terminology and other language and
content resources, Subcommittee SC 3, Computer applications for terminology.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 16642:2003), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous version are as follows:
— The following formats are no longer actively used. Consequently, references to these formats have
been removed (including Annex A, Annex B, and Annex C):
— Martif with specified constraints (MSC);
— Geneter;
— Data category interchange format (DCIF);
— Generic mapping tool (GMT).
— With the removal of Annex B and Annex C, this document no longer includes any comprehensive
code examples of a TML. Examples of TMLs are now available in ISO 30042, TermBase eXchange,
and also at the following Web site: www.tbxinfo.net.
— References to the former ISO/TC 37 Data Category Registry or ISOcat have been changed from
normative to informative. In addition, the name has changed to DatCatInfo, now as an example of
data category repositories.
— References to ISO 12620:1999 and ISO 12620:2009 have been removed. These previous standards
have been withdrawn.
— The TypedValuedElement style has been added.
— Examples have been updated to reflect ISO 30042:2008 (TBX). TBX-Basic is mentioned as a TML.
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

— Some of the examples and tables have been moved to appropriate sections.
— As a consequence of the aforementioned changes, some historical, didactic, or duplicate information
has been removed to adhere more closely to ISO editorial standards.
Introduction
Terminological data are collected, managed and stored in a wide variety of systems, typically various
kinds of database management systems, ranging from personal computer applications for individual
users to large terminological database systems operated by major companies and governmental
agencies. Terminology databases are comprised of various types of information, called data categories,
and can adopt different structural models. However, terminological data often need to be shared and
reused in a number of applications, and this sharing is facilitated when the data adheres to a common
model. To facilitate co-operation and to prevent duplicate work, it is important to develop standards
and guidelines for creating and using terminological data collections (TDCs) as well as for sharing and
exchanging data.
This document presents a modular approach for analysing existing TDCs and designing new ones. It also
provides a framework for defining terminological markup languages (TMLs) that are interoperable.
This document makes reference to DatCatInfo, an example of an available data category repository.
DatCatInfo is an online database of information about the types of data that can be included in
terminological data collections and other language resources. It is available at www.datcatinfo.net.
vi © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 16642:2017(E)
Computer applications in terminology — Terminological
markup framework
1 Scope
This document specifies a framework for representing data recorded in terminological data collections
(TDCs). This framework includes a metamodel and methods for describing specific terminological
markup languages (TMLs) expressed in XML. The mechanisms for implementing constraints in a TML
are defined, but not the specific constraints for individual TMLs.
This document is designed to support the development and use of computer applications for
terminological data and the exchange of such data between different applications. This document also
defines the conditions that allow the data expressed in one TML to be mapped onto another TML.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 704, Terminology work — Principles and methods
ISO 1087-1, Terminology work — Vocabulary — Part 1: Theory and application
ISO 3166-1, Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 1: Country codes
ISO 26162, Systems to manage terminology, knowledge and content — Design, implementation and
maintenance of terminology management systems
ISO 30042:2008, Systems to manage terminology, knowledge and content — TermBase eXchange (TBX)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 1087-1 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
basic information unit
information unit (3.12) attached to a component (3.3) of the metamodel and that can be expressed by
means of a single data category (3.6)
3.2
complementary information
Cl
information supplementary to that described in terminological entries (3.22) and shared across the
terminological data collection (3.21)
Note 1 to entry: Domain hierarchies, institution descriptions, bibliographic references and references to text
corpora are typical examples of complementary information.
3.3
component
elementary description unit of a metamodel to which data categories (3.6) can be associated to form a
data model
3.4
compound information unit
information unit (3.12) attached to a component (3.3) of the metamodel that is expressed by means of
several grouped data categories (3.6), that, taken together, express a coherent unit of information
3.5
conceptual domain
set of valid value meanings associated with a data category (3.6)
Note 1 to entry: For example, the data category /part of speech/ could have the following conceptual domain: /
noun/, /verb/, /adje
...