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Alphabetical Display
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Hierarchical Display
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References

LEMoN Armoury Thesaurus (LAT)
User Guide

The current version of the LEMoN Armoury Thesaurus (LAT) is an alphabetical listing of standard language or terms that can be used to describe and index content objects from our subject domain (i.e., Scottish swords).  Users may freely browse through the entire thesaurus, select a desired letter and examine all terms listed under it, or use the browser’s FIND function to search and quickly locate a particular term.

*Terms & Terminology
Preferred Terms are those that can be used for indexing a content object and are also known as descriptors. Preferred Terms are shown in bold.

Parenthetical Identifiers are used when disambiguating homographs, i.e., words having the same spelling but many possible meanings. A Parenthetical Identifier is an integral part of a descriptor and must be included in indexing and/or searching. It specifies the indexable concept of a particular term so as to prevent confusion.
Example:
Highland (design)

Non Preferred Terms are not used for indexing content objects but can serve as “lead-in” terms that direct a user to the Preferred Term. Unlike controlled vocabulary which only permits a 1:1 relationship between term and concept, natural language is extremely tolerant of synonymy. Once a Preferred Term has been chosen, all other variants will become Non Preferred Terms. Although they are not used for indexing, Non Preferred Terms are included in the LAT to anticipate possible keywords that users may use to search the system during the indexing process. Non Preferred Terms are indicated by regular script (no bolding or italics).
Example:
quenching
UF: hardening

Node Labels, given in <angle brackets>, are headings that help indicate a logical division of categories and whose absence may lead to a logic gap within the hierarchy.
Example:
<hilt types>
NT: Cage hilts
NT: Cruciform hilts

Scope Notes are used when it is necessary to clarify the meaning of a term and better define the context in which a term should be used for indexing a content object.
Example:
Hilt
SN: Part of the sword which consists of the guard, grip and pommel.

*Relationships

Equivalence relationships are indicated by USE (followed by a Preferred Term) AND UF (followed by a Non Preferred Term) references.
Examples:
bastard sword
USE: hand-and-a-half

Centre of Percussion
UF: sweet spot

Hierarchical relationships are those that exist between a class and its subclasses, between a broader category and a narrower category. BT and NT references are used to indicate hierarchical relationships.
Example:
edged weapons
BT: weapons
NT: swords

Associative relationships are indicated by the RT notation. RTs are conceptually related to the main heading but do not fall directly under equivalence or hierarchical relationships. Part-whole relationships or near synonyms are typical examples of associative relationships. Users of the thesaurus and indexers may find it useful to look up given RTs to help select the most suitable term for their particular need.
Example:
forging
RT: stock-removal
RT: tempering

All term relationships in the thesaurus are referenced reciprocally:

USE <- reciprocates -> UF
Example:

BT <- reciprocates -> NT
Example:

RT <- reciprocates -> RT
Example:

*Displays
The primary version of LAT currently uses the Alphabetical Display.
Alternate displays of the LAT are currently under development. As these are yet to be completed, only a sample is given here for illustrative purposes.

The Top-Term Display lists the top terms that are at the highest level of a hierarchy (i.e. the broadest terms) and the narrow terms that are classified in lower levels under them.

The Hierarchical Display shows all the terms in the thesaurus and the way other terms are related to each term.

Since language is dynamic, term status and term relationships can change over time. Certain Preferred Terms may become obsolete and their status may be downgraded to a UF term, while some node labels may one day attain “approved” status and become the authoritative form, or Preferred Term. Given this fact, the LAT is an ongoing project that is constantly being maintained and updated.