For a
number of years, I have looked for a way to enable implementations of OMG
modeling languages to support multiple, alternative natural languages. It should be possible to develop a model with
a modeling tool that expresses modeling language elements in your native
language, allows you to identify elements in your model in terms from your native
language, and allows you to express definitions for your terms in your native
language. Then, it should be possible to
give your model to a person with a different native language and have the
modeling language and your model expressed in terms with definitions from that
person’s native language. Of course, somebody must do the translation, but over
time, there should be shared libraries of terms and definitions for the same concepts in
different languages at least for certain industries or business disciplines.
I have
made several attempts to initiate a request for proposals (RFP) in the Object
Management Group (OMG) to solicit solutions to this capability. It potentially expands the market for OMG
modeling languages, and it would be particularly beneficial to organizations
with operations in multiple countries.
Furthermore, it would shift the focus of creation of modeling elements
from debates over a name to development of clear definitions of concepts. The alternative languages might not only be
languages of different countries, but languages (vernacular) of different
disciplines.
At the
March meeting of the OMG, we finally issued a Request for Proposals for a
Multiple Vocabulary Facility. I
developed a draft several meetings ago, but Evan Wallace of NIST (US National
Institute of Standards and Technology) brought insights from his work on
semantics and ontologies to clarify the specific need and distinguish it from
other specifications that have some forms of multiple language facilities.
The intent is that a modeling language implementation can integrate an MVF product and access libraries of terms and definitions to be integrated into the user inputs and displays. This allows the user models to retain the capability if moved to a different modeling language tool as long as it supports MVF.
Submitters
to this RFP must be OMG members at an appropriate membership level
(Contributing or Platform), but submissions are often the product of coalitions
with at least one qualified submitter.
Letters of intent are due to OMG by August 29, 2016. Initial submissions are due February 20,
2016. The process allows for submitters
to reconcile differences after initial submissions for the possibility that
they can converge to one, broadly accepted final submission.