A proposal for textual encoding based on semantic web tools

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate and prove the feasibility of a semantic web (SW) based approach to textual encoding. It aims to discuss benefits and novel possibilities with respect to traditional XML‐based approaches. Design/methodology/approach – The markup process can be seen as a task of knowledge representation where elements such as words, sentences and pages are instances of conceptual classes forming a semantic network. An ontology web language ontology for textual encoding has been developed, capturing structural and grammatical aspects. Different approaches and tools to query the encoded text are investigated. Findings – resource description framework (RDF) is powerful and expressive enough to fulfil tasks traditionally done in XML as well as to enable new possibilities such as collaborative and distributed textual encoding and the use of ontology‐based reasoning in text processing and querying. While the encoding of overlapping hierarchies through the use of existing approaches is often complex and leads to idiosyncratic solutions, this problem is naturally solved using SW languages. Research limitations/implications – To make the approach suitable for widespread adoption, further work is required both in ontologies modelling and in applications (e.g. markup editing). Practical implications – The prototype implementation imports existing encoded texts, transforms them into RDF‐based markups and uses SW query languages to answer cross‐hierarchy queries. Existing tools (reasoners, search and query engines, etc.) can be used immediately. Originality/value – This methodology enables distributed interoperability and reuse of previous encoded results and opens the way to novel collaborative textual markup scenarios.