Creating A Data Element Dictionary For Computer Aided Terminology Work

This paper treats the development of a Data Element Dictionary within the framework of ISO Technical Committee 37, Terminology: Principles and Coordination Sub-committee 3 for Computational Aids in Terminology. The paper discusses the need for a standardized list of data element names for the purpose of data interchange among databases having different structural features and functional objectives. It lists the important steps to be followed in compiling such a data element dictionary and explains some of the specific problems that have occurred in reaching consensus on which data elements to include, how to define them, and how they may behave both in the local environments and in the interchange format. In conclusion the paper examines a single typical terminology entry and demonstrates the data element selections that should be made preparatory to expressing this terminology entry using data elements taken from ISO CD 12620: Computational Aids in Terminology -- Data Element Dictionary. [ISO-1]2.