SKOSXL

SKOSXL is an extension of the Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS). SKOS is a W3C recommendation for representing thesauri, classification schemes, and other types of controlled vocabularies. SKOSXL enhances SKOS by providing a way to represent linguistic variations and alternative labels for concepts.

The core of SKOSXL is the addition of a new property, skosxl:prefLabel, which can be used in addition to skos:prefLabel. While skos:prefLabel is a simple literal string, skosxl:prefLabel is an RDF resource, typically a blank node, that can have further properties attached to it. This allows for richer annotation of labels. For example, a skosxl:prefLabel can be associated with a specific language, a particular script, or even a comment indicating its usage context.

Another key feature of SKOSXL is the introduction of skosxl:altLabel, skosxl:hiddenLabel, and skosxl:notation. Similar to skosxl:prefLabel, these are also RDF resources that can be further annotated. This provides more granular control over different types of alternative labels. For instance, one might distinguish between a common alternative label and a more technical or specialized one.

The motivation behind SKOSXL is to address the limitations of SKOS in handling multilingual vocabularies and the nuances of label representation. By allowing labels to be treated as first-class citizens, SKOSXL facilitates more sophisticated multilingual applications and a better understanding of concept labeling in knowledge organization. It is particularly useful in scenarios where precise control over linguistic variations and the contexts of label usage is important.