Information retrieval language (IR-language)
An expression coined by Calvin Mooers (1951). Sometimes termed search language or query language. Vickery (1973) uses the term "retrieval languages", while Kemp (1988, p. 290) prefers "matching language".
IR-languages is a designation of the "languages" and principles of different kinds of subject data used in information retrieval.
Classification and
indexing are examples of IR-languages as are
controlled
vocabulary, natural language,
syntactical devises (as, for example in
PRECIS) etc.
There are different advantages and disadvantages by different IR-languages: Some
are more user-friendly, some have a higher precision, some provide a higher
performance on some parameters, other on other parameters. In practice is
therefore often used a combination of different IR-languages in the same
databases and in the same records.
Literature:
Kemp, D. A. (1988). Computer-based Knowledge Retrieval. London:
ASLIB.
Mooers, C. N. (1951). Zatocoding applied to mechanical organization of knowledge.
American Documentation, 2, 20-32.
Vickery, B. C. (1973). Information Systems. London: Butterworth.
See also: Controlled vocabulary;
Indexing languages;
and Natural language
Birger Hjørland
Last edited: 20-01-2006