sourcestext

Sourcestext is a term used in information management and data curation to denote the verbatim textual material taken directly from a source document, webpage, book, transcript, or other text-bearing artifact. It refers to the original, unmodified text as it appeared in the source, before any processing, summarization, or transformation. The term is not standardized, but it is used in discussions of data provenance and dataset composition to distinguish source text from derived or generated content.

In practice, sourcestext functions as a primary record that supports attribution, licensing assessment, and reproducibility. Datasets that include sourcestext typically accompany metadata identifying the source, such as author, publication date, URL, license, and version. Sourcestext may be subject to copyright or licensing restrictions, so curators often track usage rights and add disclaimers or usage notes.

Processing typically involves careful extraction and alignment to preserve the original form while enabling downstream tasks. This may include retaining original formatting, handling nonstandard characters, and recording source references. Derived layers, such as tokenized or summarized representations, are created separately and linked back to the sourcestext to maintain traceability and accountability.

Challenges include source ambiguity, paywalls, dynamic content, retractions, and evolving licenses. Ethical and legal considerations emphasize proper attribution, respect for rights holders, and clear disclosure of how sourcestext is used in research, training, or publication. Related concepts include data provenance, quotation, and licensing metadata.