Many people are confused about taxonomy and terminology. And with good reason. Both taxonomy and terminology use words – often the same words. They are both ways of controlling your vocabulary. However, taxonomy and terminology are used for different purposes. In this presentation, we define taxonomy and terminology. We examine how they are different and where they intersect. We also cover some best practices for managing them both.

1. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Taxonomy and Terminology:
The Crossroad of Controlled Vocabulary
Val Swisher
Founder & CEO
Content Rules, Inc.

2. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Credentials
Passion
Talk to me
Read
Founder & CEO
Content Rules, Inc.
Board Member
Translators without Borders
Content Strategy
Content Quality
Global Readiness
Global Content Strategy: A Primer

3. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Content Strategy
• Global content strategy
• Single-sourcing, reuse,
structured authoring
• Content quality experts
Global Readiness
• Prepare content to
be translated
• Save time
• Save money
• Ensure quality in
all languages
Content Development
• Writing
• Editing
• Illustration
• Design
• Project
Management
Content Rules, Inc.

4. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc

5. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Taxonomy and Terminology:
The Crossroad of Controlled Vocabulary

6. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Controlled
Language
Taxonomy Terminology
Way to classify words
in hierarchical
groupings
System of words that
belong to something
in commonWhich words to use
Where to use words
Conditions of use
Definition

7. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Controlled
Language
Use
Organizational
Structure
Needs to be
governed
Taxonomy Terminology
Search
Hierarchy
Consistency
Standardization
Readability
Brand perception

8. Taxonomy
• A way to classify things
• Defines groups
• Used mainly in search

9. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
A taxonomy can be multilayered or flat.

10. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Facet
Facet
{Roll-up
Poly-hierarchy
Components of Taxonomy:

11. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Meat Dairy Veg. Bake Broil Grill
Type
Cooking
Method
Food

12. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Food
Beef
Pork
Chicken
Milk
Butter
Yogurt
Leafy
Kale
Root
Lettuce
Meat Dairy Vegetables
Type

13. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Kale Lettuce
Vegetables
Leafy
Curly Dino Iceberg Romaine Bibb
Root
Food
Type

14. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Lettuce
Vegetables
Leafy
Romaine
Food
Type

15. Taxonomy
• A way to classify things
• Defines groups
• Used mainly in search

16. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Terminology
• A system of words that belong to
something in common
• A collection of words that are managed
• Contains standard and non-standard
words

17. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Makes content:
• Consistent
• Standard
• Governed
Improves:
• Readability
• Translation
• Brand perception

18. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
typefood method

19. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
typefood method
grub
chow
cuisine
sustenance
meat
dairy
vegetables
grill
bake
broil
poach

20. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
food
type method

21. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
food
type method

22. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Which terms should be managed?

23. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
food
grub
chow
cuisine
sustenance
Synonyms

24. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Coca-Cola®
CocaCola
Coca Cola
Trademarks
Service marks
Brand names
Product names
Coke-Cola

25. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
porter house
porterhouse
porter-house
Variants

26. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
eBook
daughterboard
gamification
Made up
Words

27. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Google
Fedex
Facebook
Xerox
Switched
Parts of
Speech

28. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
definition
illustration
usage
notes
creator
date
added
inflection
part
of
speech
language
source
context
status
Include:

29. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
View from a terminology management system:

30. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
View from a terminology management system:

31. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
View from a terminology management system:

32. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
View from a terminology management system:

33. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
View from a terminology management system:

34. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
View from a terminology management system:

35. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Words in the
taxonomy
should be
in
terminology.
Food
Leafy Kale
Lettuce
Iceberg
Bibb
Romaine Curly
Dino
Vegetables
Best Practices

36. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Deleting Words
✓ Disallow in taxonomy and terminology
✓ Replace with preferred term
✓ Eventually remove deprecated word from taxonomy
✓ Leave deprecated word in terminology forever
Best Practices

37. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Governance
✓ Taxonomy and terminology must be governed
✓ Cross-pollinate both teams
✓ Communication is key
Best Practices

38. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Controlled
Language
Taxonomy Terminology
Summary
Way to classify things
Defines hierarchical
groups
Used for search
System of words that
belong to something
in common
Standard and
non-standard words
Which words to use
Where to use words
Conditions of use

39. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Questions?

40. @ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc
Val Swisher
CEO
Content Rules, Inc.
www.contentrules.com
@ValSwisher
@ContentRulesInc