[Data-modeling] how much work done on modeling of personal names -- even for surname + given name?

[Kirrily Robert]

On 04/03/2009, at 10:59 PM, Ed Laurent wrote:

> I revised the model because the one I described below wasn't working  
> the way I thought it would . Unfortunately, all my changes are  
> giving Freebase hiccups. I've duplicated the model on sandbox and  
> it's working like I think it should (except for the pesky resorting  
> of name order). I also used "Given Name" and "Family Name" in the  
> model. Here are some links:
>
> http://sandbox.freebase.com/type/schema/base/litcentral/person_name_format
>
> http://sandbox.freebase.com/type/schema/base/litcentral/person_full_name


OK, having looked at your schema:

1) do you need that CVT to be time mediated?  If not, how do you  
handle name changes, maiden names, etc?

2) I'd like to hear some input from people familiar with non-Western  
cultures, as I suspect we're missing some very interesting things  
about naming cultures elsewhere.  I forget which culture it was I  
heard of, not too long ago, where people essentially had two names:  
one which their close relatives called them, and one used by people  
less closely connected.  Might have been Australian aboriginal.  Now  
obviously we wouldn't record this in Freebase as we generally wouldn't  
know their private name, but it does raise the question of cultures  
that don't break names along the family/given lines, but along some  
other line.

3) Even within Western cultures we get wackiness like the way popes  
choose a pope-name(?) when they take the position.  What is Pope  
Benedict XVI's family name?  Surely he's not Benedict Ratzinger.  When  
sorting, you'd expect to find him under B.  The same occurs with nuns  
who take saint names when they take orders.  What's Mother Theresa's  
family name?  And then there's James Smith, Lord Something.  His  
family name might be "Smith" but since acceding to the title of Lord  
Something, he's never referred to by it.

In conclusion: I'm confused, the subject is confusing, it's bedtime.   
More tomorrow no doubt.  Goodnight.

K.

-- 
Kirrily Robert
Freebase Community Director
kirrily at metaweb.com



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