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Published

prefix

vr.tr.prefix · thing-q134830

Let an agent handle prefixes by language, meaning and attachment rules, including affixes in names where they attach before a word stem.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems INF.MED
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Form Which prefix.

Language

Source.

Language

Language.

  1. Which language and which prefix is it? definition
  2. Where does it come from? provenance

Meaning

Effect.

Meaning

Meaning.

  1. What meaning does it add? definition
  2. Does it change word class? definition
Usage Forming words.

Rules

Attachment.

Rules

Attachment rules.

  1. Which stems can it attach to? definition
  2. Is a hyphen needed? boundary

Productivity

New words.

Productivity

Productivity.

  1. Is it still used to form new words? definition
  2. Which dictionary records it? provenance
Names Name particles.

Particles

Van, de, von.

Particles

Name particles.

  1. Is the particle part of the surname for sorting here? boundary
  2. Which national convention applies? provenance

Honorifics

Titles before names.

Honorifics

Honorific prefixes.

  1. Which honorific prefix is appropriate? definition
  2. Does the person prefer one? boundary
Translation Other languages.

Equivalents

Matches.

Equivalents

Equivalents.

  1. What is the equivalent in another language? action
  2. Is the meaning preserved? boundary

Senses

Unit and phone prefixes.

Senses

Other senses.

  1. Is a unit prefix or a telephone prefix meant? boundary
  2. Which entry fits? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Information and virtual systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
INF
Domain
INF.MED
Other names and narrower kinds
honorific prefix, foreign prefix, adjective prefix, noun prefix, Vanden, Vande, prefixes in Hebrew, D', Ver-, Ver, Int, t'

What it is Filled

An affix placed before a word stem to form a new word or inflection, such as un-, re- or pre- in English; name particles and honorifics placed before names are outside this sense unless they function as affixes attached to word stems.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle prefixes by language, meaning and attachment rules, including affixes in names where they attach before a word stem.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • A prefix attaches before a word stem.
  • A prefix changes meaning or grammatical function.
  • Prefix meanings and attachment rules are language-specific.
  • Unattached name particles are outside this affix sense.

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Strip or change affixes in a way that misrecords a person's legal name.
  • Treat a meaningful prefix as noise when matching records about people.
  • Mock or mangle names because of their prefixes.
  • Classify unattached name particles as prefixes in this affix sense.

Only with a human decision

  • Changing how a person's name is recorded in an official record requires human review.

May

  • Identify prefixes and explain how they change a word's meaning.
  • Analyse affixes in names when linguistic evidence establishes that they attach before word stems.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Getting someone's name right is a matter of respect and of correct records.
  • Misparsed names cause people to be missed or merged in databases.

Who is affected

  • People whose names carry prefixes
  • Users of name records

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody: a feature of language held in common.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q23585486 - registry parent class
  • Q62155 - registry parent class

related

  • affix - category
  • suffix - position
  • morphology - field
  • SI prefix - another use

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.prefix
  • Wikidata: Q134830 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134830)

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

Not applicable

Plane INF: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • Common prefixes include un-, re- and anti-.
  • Unattached name particles such as van, de and von do not establish the presence of a prefix in this sense.
  • SI unit prefixes are a related sense.
  • Letters or syllables at the start of words.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • identify prefixes and meanings
  • form new words correctly
  • sort names with prefixes
  • translate prefixed words

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Confusing unattached name particles with affixes can cause incorrect analysis.
  • False etymologies can misrepresent a word's structure.
  • Hyphenation errors can misrepresent prefix attachment.

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • National rules for sorting surnames with particles
  • SI Brochure for unit prefixes

Context of use required Filled

  • Forming words and marking meaning; in names, marking family or rank.
  • derivational prefixes
  • inflectional prefixes
  • borrowed prefixes
  • name particles and honorific prefixes
  • unit prefixes (related)

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q134830: prefix - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Prefix - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should individual prefixes be separate entries?
  • How should name particle rules be recorded by country?
  • How should unit prefixes be linked?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q134830/spec.json