A hypergraph-based approach

In order to take the Scylla of heterogeneity in the field into account, and avoid, on the other hand, the Charybdis of a completely ad hoc hybrid description, a new approach is proposed which

• combines the traditional semasiological and onomasiological approaches to terminology characterisation,
• re-uses existing computer-readable terminological documentation and relevant text,
• develops a notion of a terminological hypergraph model and applies this in the construction of a terminological hyperlexicon.

With this goal in mind, the traditional device of conceptual graphs in the onomasiological characterisation of terminology is replaced by an explicitly defined macromodel with substructures which are designed to be realised as a terminological hypergraph, which is in turn intended as a specification for the design of a hyperlexicon for implementation on CD-ROM and World Wide Web contexts (EAGLET HyperLexicon). The `leaves' of the hypergraph are the terms; terms and their vector of defining properties are used to specify the data categories and records of a terminological relational database (EAGLET DB); EAGLET DB is operational with provisional functionality, and EAGLET HyperLexicon will remain for the medium term future as a specification.