An Experiment in Blind Terminology Interchange: Developing and Testing Conversion Algorithms for Externally Supplied Data

MARTIF (MAchine-Readable Terminology Interchange Format) is an SGML-based format for data interchange among concept-oriented terminological databases. MARTIF is intended for interchange between partners (e.g., two translation companies) who know about each other and are able to “negotiate” details of the format to minimize information loss.A contrasting approach to terminology interchange is called “blind” interchange. With this approach, details are pre-defined so that export and import routines can be written without “seeing” the interchange partner. However, blind interchange may hinder preservation of information. Complete preservation and total blindness appear to be incompatible. An acceptable blind interchange format must necessarily provide adequate preservation of information. Hardman (1996) proposed a format for blind interchange based on a 1995 draft version of MARTIF. The present experiment tests a revised proposal for blind interchange that is based on the 1997 draft version of MARTIF. This revised Blind MARTIF proposal, which is a restricted subset of MARTIF, benefited from comments on the content of the Hardman thesis.The thesis of this work is that the current version of Blind MARTIF is capable of sufficient preservation of information when blindness is imposed. This work begins with a brief motivation for interchange and a discussion of the tension between negotiated and blind interchange, followed by a discussion of MARTIF and associated research that provide a foundation for Blind MARTIF. The work continues with an overview of the current Blind MARTIF proposal, including pointers to supplementary materials on CD-ROM and the Internet.To test this thesis, externally supplied data files are analyzed. Specifications of each data sample are submitted to the coder of the conversion routines. Finally, an analysis of the results of running the Conversion routines is conducted, clearly showing that Blind MARTIF is an adequate approach to preservation of information.

Thesis Author: Alder, Aaron D.

Year Completed: 1998

Committee Members: John S. Robertson, Deryle Lonsdale

Thesis Chair: Alan K. Melby