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Structure and function in retrieval languages

B.C. Vickery (Aslib Research Department)

Journal of Documentation

ISSN: 0022-0418

Article publication date: 1 January 2006

1449

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the varied structural characteristics which may be present in retrieval languages.

Design/methodology/approach

The languages serve varied purposes in information systems, and a number of these are identified. The relations between structure and function are discussed and suggestions made as to the most suitable structures needed for various purposes.

Findings

A quantitative approach has been developed: a simple measure is the number of separate terms in a retrieval language, but this has to be related to the scope of its subject field. Some ratio of terms to items in the field seems a more suitable measure of the average specificity of the terms. Other aspects can be quantified – for example, the average number of links in hierarchical chains, or the average number of cross‐references in a thesaurus.

Originality/value

All the approaches to the analysis of retrieval language reported in this paper are of continuing value. Some practical studies of computer information systems undertaken by Aslib Research Department have suggested a further approach.

Keywords

Citation

Vickery, B.C. (2006), "Structure and function in retrieval languages", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 62 No. 1, pp. 7-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410610642011

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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