Hi,
I was working on the term 'identity' with respect to internet stuff; and thereafter started looking for an RDF source for an english thesaurus or dictionary; and couldn't find one. I found https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Main_Page but it didn't seem to have well-formed RDF output; as to act as an ontological source (rather than simply the use of RDF for SEO).
thereafter started writing; this is where i got up to,
Project Purpose To generate an RDF compliant dictionary and thesaurus for the purpose of ontological reuse on the web.
PROBLEM We use language to develop web-pages that have inferred human considered meaning. Yet, the definition of these terms are not necessarily machine readable.
For Example: "identity".
When working on 'digital identity' this is often considered to have the meaning of how people log-in to their personal accounts or means in which to interact with their personal data; or that of others. HOWEVER, identity can also mean 'sameness'; which can also be useful for organisations such as website operators to say 'these people have one of my website identities' that is to say, they're all consumers.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/identity
This can be further clarified by looking at the different meanings provided to the same word via a thesaurus: http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/identity
I thereafter looked for a way in which a statement of exactness could be made via RDF; but couldn't find an appropriate RDF dictionary resource.
SOLUTION Build an online dictionary and thesaurus that is machine-readable. It makes sense that this may best be done with wiki technology.
FEATURES - The project would firstly focus on the lexicography of the english language and related dialects. This is expected to include works in adding latin predicates. - The project would produce a comprehensive thesaurus, including unique identifiers for different uses of the same term (supporting a comprehension of the differentiation in the use of that term). - The project would produce a platform that provided RDF output in a number of serialisations. - Would provide the means for people to add / edit content on the site.
PRODUCTION METHOD It is hoped the site can be rapidly populated using scripts to ingest existing information from freely available sources; and to populate the system with information in an RDF compliant format; that may be altered, edited, updated in a ‘wiki’ like fashion.
USES For the communication of specific concepts in a manner that may be further clarified by both human and machine observers; as to ensure parties are communicating and/or developing works upon a basis of common understanding of the meaning provided to the language used.
I had concerns that the WikiData site seemed to be better orientated towards the concept of schema.org/thing rather than a 'language' or other form of predicate. Please let me know your thoughts? Perhaps i've missed something entirely and this exists already? Perhaps people have been thinking about it elsewhere? perhaps barriers exist, that i'm not aware of...
Timothy Holborn.