What strategies are used for ensuring consistency in terminology across mining documents in DITA?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Ensuring consistency in terminology across mining documents is vital for clear communication and accurate representation of industry-specific concepts in DITA XML. Several strategies are employed to achieve this goal:

Centralized Terminology Management

Mining organizations often establish centralized terminology management processes in DITA. This involves creating dedicated glossaries and terminology databases that contain standardized definitions for industry-specific terms, abbreviations, and jargon. These resources serve as the authoritative references for all mining documentation, ensuring that authors use consistent terminology.

Terminology Review and Approval

Before inclusion in mining documents, terminology is subject to review and approval processes. Subject matter experts and terminologists evaluate proposed terms and definitions to ensure accuracy and consistency. This rigorous review helps prevent inconsistencies and errors in the use of terminology across different documents.

Conditional Text and Key References

DITA XML allows for the use of conditional text and key references to dynamically manage terminology variations. This is particularly useful when mining organizations operate in multiple regions or have different divisions with specific terminological preferences. Conditional text and key references enable the inclusion of region-specific or division-specific terminology, ensuring that documentation remains relevant to diverse audiences while maintaining consistency within each context.

Example:

Here’s an example of how conditional text and key references can be used to ensure terminology consistency in DITA:


<!-- Conditional Text for Regional Terminology -->
<topic id="mining_process">
  <title>Mining Process</title>
  <body>
    <p>This document outlines the <term keyref="mining_term">extraction process</term> used in our <condition>US</condition><else>international</else> mining operations.</p>
  </body>
</topic>

<!-- Terminology Key Definitions -->
<glossentry id="mining_term">
  <glossterm>Mining Extraction</glossterm>
  <glossdef>
    <p>An industry-specific term referring to the process of removing valuable minerals from the Earth's crust.</p>
  </glossdef>
  <conditions>
    <pubkey scope="local">US
  </conditions>
</glossentry>

In this example, the document uses conditional text to specify different terminology based on the region (US or international). The <term keyref=”mining_term”>extraction process</term> is dynamically replaced with “Mining Extraction” or “extraction process” depending on the context, ensuring consistent terminology usage.