Bill and Rich, (01)
Please note that I have never claimed that natural languages are
formal systems, and I made the point that WordNet is *not* an
ontology. (02)
WB> John: I understand your point that a "term" in a formal language
> (e.g., ontology) should have a single, unique definition - this
> allows automated processors to (soundly) do something with
> statements in the language.
>
> It is important to point out, however, that this requirement
> addresses a very small set of users "out there in web-land" -
> less than 1% I would guess. The "semantic web" will never
> materialize with this requirement because, simply, a very very
> large percentage of data-creators don't have the understanding
> and won't devote the time/rigor required to create these
> semantically precise statements. (03)
I completely agree. Those systems require *terminologies*
and *lexical resource* such as WordNet. (04)
MW> Most will create their schemas and ontologies and create
> their data using their natural language skills/capabilities
> facilities - leading to multiple and evolving meanings. (05)
Yes, indeed. I wouldn't call most of the things they produce
"formal ontologies". (06)
RC> I find the assertion that any USEFUL ontology has to have
> singular meanings to be inapplicable to nearly ever discipline
> with deep studies behind it. (07)
We differ in terminology. You called WordNet an ontology,
but George Miller never called it an ontology. It is
a very important and widely used lexical resource. (08)
There are uses for formal ontologies, but the terminologies
and lexical resources have far more applications to the WWW. (09)
John (010)
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