LexMeta, a metadata model for lexical resources

LexMeta follows the three-level entity hierarchy for the representation of artistic or creative endavour proposed in the FRBR ontology, widely used in libraries, which we map to the two-level hierarchy for the representation of LCR metadata proposed in Metashare, from where we inherit the terminology, and the definitions. These hierarchy levels, expressed as classes, are the following:

FRBR class Metashare class LexMeta class MetaShare definition
frbr:Work Lexicographic work [An abstract notion of a creation; used to group different expressions (editions, versions) of the same work, and address statements that apply on work level.]
frbr:Expression ms:LexicalConceptualResource LexicalConceptualResource A resource organised on the basis of lexical or conceptual entries (lexical items, terms, concepts, etc.) with their supplementary information (e.g., grammatical, semantic, statistical information, etc.)
frbr:Manifestation ms:DatasetDistribution LCR Distribution Any form with which a dataset is distributed, such as a downloadable form in a specific format (e.g., spreadsheet, plain text, etc.) or an API with which it can be accessed

The entity Schemata for LexMeta LCR and LCR Distributions are aligned to those of the corresponding FRBR and Metashare classes (in other words, the LexBib class is a subclass of both). This has several implications:

  • Properties that describe LCR content are attached to items of class LexicalConceptualResource.
  • Properties that describe the LCR distribution, e.g. a physical dictionay in book form, or an electronic dictionary in a dictionary web portal or as downloadable dataset, are attached to LCR Distribution items.
  • LCR Distribution items, when they have publication metadata as books have, are LexBib Zotero items, i.e. in LexBib wikibase, members of class LexBib BibItem. This applies mainly for book publications, and distributions on CD-ROM. But also online electronic dictionaries are collected in library information systems and can have publication metadata, and can exist as LexBib Zotero items. Publication metadata properties are described in the BIBO ontology (RDF), and Zotero item data fields map to BIBO.
  • A dictionary with the same contents in printed form, on CD-ROM, available in a mobile app, or downloadable in different serialization formats (XML, JSON, etc.) will be represented as the same resource (LexicalConceptualResource) with different distributions (LCR Distribution).
  • Different versions, editions, conversions, summaries, etc., of a lexicographic work will be represented as different LexicalConceptualResource items, being able to describe relations between these using properties defined in Metashare.

Description of lexical-conceptual resources (LCR) such as dictionaries

LexMeta provides categories for classifying dictionaries and other lexical resources, here called properties attached to LCR. Property ranges are defined as listed in the following table. Click on the class names to see the member terms in a hierarchical representation.

Description of LCR distributions, such as printed or electronic dictionaries

Manuscript, printed, and offline and online electronic dictionaries, as distributions are represented using the same set of properties as for LexBib metalexicographical articles. They can also be listed in LexBib Zotero.

prop propLabel wikidata BIBO LexMeta
[Q-ID]
P100 bibitem type (ms:distributionForm)
P16 LexBib Zotero item
P2 wikidata entity
P5 instance of P31
P6 title P1476 dct:title
P9 containing BibCollection
P11 publication language P407 dct:language
P12 author P50 bibo:authorList
P13 editor P98 bibo:editorList
P15 publication date P577 dct:date
P35 publisher
<TBD> publication place P291
P17 DOI P356 bibo:doi
P18 ISBN-13 P212 bibo:isbn13
P19 ISBN-10 P957 bibo:isbn10
P20 ISSN P236 bibo:issn
P21 distribution location P953 ms:distributionLocation
P44 official website P856
P111 BibCollection landing page
P112 access location ms:accessLocation
P113 download location ms:downloadLocation
P22 volume P478 bibo:volume
P23 issue P433 bibo:issue
P24 page(s) P304 bibo:pages
P29 first author location
P36 event
P64 edition number P393
P85 Elexifinder collection
P97 short title
P27 subject dct:subject
P26 is reviewed in schema:review
P25 is review of P6977 bibo:reviewOf
P147 cites P2860 bibo:cites