Lähiasiasanat

Lähiasiasanat, a Finnish term often translated as "close keywords" or "related terms," are a fundamental concept in information retrieval and library science. They refer to words or phrases that are semantically connected to a primary keyword or topic. The goal of using lähiasiasanat is to broaden search results beyond exact matches, thereby increasing the chances of finding relevant information that might not be indexed with the initial search term. This is particularly useful in subject indexing and cataloging systems where a single concept can be represented by various synonyms, broader terms, or narrower terms.

In practice, lähiasiasanat help users discover resources by anticipating different ways a topic might be described. For instance, if a user searches for "automobiles," lähiasiasanat might include "cars," "vehicles," "motor vehicles," or even related terms like "driving" or "transportation." This approach is crucial for overcoming vocabulary differences between users and information systems, as well as accounting for variations in terminology over time. Libraries and databases often employ thesauri or controlled vocabularies to systematically define and link these related terms, ensuring a more comprehensive and effective information retrieval experience. The effective use of lähiasiasanat can significantly improve the recall and precision of search queries.