Dynamism and context in specialized knowledge

Abstract

EcoLexicon is a terminological knowledge base (TKB) on the environment which seeks to enhance both cognitive and communicative needs of different users. In order to achieve this, TKBs should reflect conceptual structures in a similar way to how concepts relate in the human mind (Meyer et al. 1992). Categorization itself is a dynamic context-dependent process. Therefore, representation and acquisition of specialized knowledge should certainly focus on contextual variation. In EcoLexicon, such contextualization takes the form of dynamic information modules, such as conceptual networks, images, textual information, and terminological variance. Recontextualization provides a way of representing the dynamic and multidimensional nature of conceptualization processes in the mind. On the one hand, it offers a qualitative criterion for the representation of specialized concepts in line with the workings of the human conceptual system. On the other hand, it provides a quantitative solution to the problem of information overload, as it significantly reduces irrelevant context-free information.