[Data-modeling] word puzzle

[Christopher R. Maden]

spencer kelly wrote:
> so maybe, the only way to map a topic's word-life correctly is to give words
> their specific topic, essentially multiplying every topic we have by how
> many languages we decide to map.
> crazy. stupid.
> 
> is freebase categorically non-linguistic?

Yes.  As Kurt said, words qua words need to be their own topics.

Take a look at Wiktionary, for example.  The English Wiktionary has
entries for words in English, French, Chinese, Hebrew... but the
definitions and descriptions are in English.  One can consider the
English word “dog” and discuss it in English, French, Chinese... and one
can consider the French word “chien” and discuss it in English, French,
Chinese...  The two words are discrete concepts, however, with discrete
etymologies and connotative meanings, and the fact that both words map
in their primary usage to the species called “dog” in English is an
interesting relationship, but not the same as an identity on their part.

~Chris
-- 
Chris Maden, text nerd  <URL: http://crism.maden.org/ >
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