Capturing evolution of lexicographic knowledge in dynamic classification systems

The paper examines two problems that have to be addressed in order to capture the evolution of lexicographic knowledge. The lexicographic knowledge discussed in the paper is presented in the form of classifications categories that are used to provide linguistic markup for textual data in information systems. Evolution of lexicographic data is considered based on the example of a supracorpora database (SCDB). The first problem deals with integration of the framework for capturing changes of semantic content of classification categories into the SCDB. The proposed solution to this problem involves integration of two new tables that capture information about temporal states of the classification categories and about change operations applied to those categories. The paper describes how these tables are integrated into the SCDB structure. The second problem deals with providing the user interface for application of changes to the classification categories. The interface implemented in the SCDB is described in detail. The proposed solutions can be scaled so that they would make it possible to capture evolution not only of lexicographic knowledge but of scientific knowledge in general if this knowledge can be represented in the form of a dynamic classification system.