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ISBN: 978-972-8939-25-0 © 2010 IADIS5.5 Lexeme DefinitionOne of the most common tasks in lexeme definition consists of consistently connecting lexemes to theparadigms that generate their flexions. In order to make this process easier, we have created a wizard tolocate lexemes and establish these connections, as well as to choose the most adequate paradigm.To define a lexeme, users must enter a word and highlight its radical, and provide four example flexions.An initial analysis phase checks the available paradigms and suggests those that suit the flexions given. It isthen up to users to choose the most adequate options, and they are also free to complement or create newparadigms. For those lexemes that have a specific flexion, such as compound nouns, one can create anembedded paradigm, exclusive to that lexeme (Figure 7).5.6 Bilingual DictionaryWe divided the present stage into two sub-processes, namely: definition and management of correspondencesbetween lexemes and expressions.In the first sub-process, users select two monolingual dictionaries to be related, and the system preparesthe definitions of the bilingual dictionary automatically, with the alphabet and a grid of symbols derived fromthe relation between the languages. Additionally, both statistics about the monolingual dictionaries andinformation about the relations are available.A grid of the unified symbols displays the following information in columns: the code, the descriptionand the morphological dictionary to which the symbol belongs. These pieces of information are important forthe orientation within the interface, and must also be included in the resulting XML file.The second sub-process manages the relations between lexemes and expressions, and indentifies therelations that truly define the bilingual dictionary. Building these relations is a rather peculiar task, since theprocess takes place on lexeme level, simulating relations word by word; in other words, the system buildsrelations based on the partial interlingua generated.Figure 8 shows the interface and the existing relations for a given lexeme. In the lateral bar, users maychoose options to filter and search definitions related to a certain lexeme both in the “A language” (i.e. thesource language) and in the “B language” (i.e. the target language). Once they have chosen a lexeme, theyhave two grids with information about it.Figure 7. Lexeme definitionsFigure 8. Bilingual dictionary and the relations betweenlexemes and expressionsThe first of such grids contains all the possible flexions of the lexeme chosen, as well as itscorrespondences from the analysis phase – based on the morphological dictionary. The second grid, on theother hand, displays the rules associated to the lexeme, which in turn are organized in three columns, asfollows: the first column displays the standard accepted by rule; the second displays the output to begenerated; and the third shows the valid orientation for that rule.The definition displayed in the first column follows the principle of pattern matching – with the mostspecific rule or the most complete standard. It refers to the root of the lexeme, followed by its morphologicalclassification generated by analysis.The content of the second column will substitute the standard found, so as to prepare the phase ofgeneration into the target language. Finally, the third column displays the direction into which the rule isvalid – considering that certain rules are valid solely in one direction within the language pair.166