[Sigia-l] Tag clouds and lexical analysis

[Will Parker]

On Jan 15, 2007, at 8:43 PM, Ziya Oz wrote:
> Will Parker:
>
>> these _look like_ what we've  all come to know as a 'tag-cloud'
>
> Yep. Therein lies the dilemma. In a lot blogs for example it has  
> become
> fashionable to use these for all sorts of things.

> I wish there was a better visual
> differentiation of concordance vs. tagging.

Sounds like time to discuss icons, symbols and labeling.

In other words, accept the overarching name of 'tag-cloud' (so much  
fresher than 'concordance', which will never be used outside  
academia), and promote modifier terms and -- in particular for a  
visual metaphor like 'whatever-clouds' -- *standardized visual means*  
are provided to distinguish between the different usages.

For example, and without a great deal of thought given, add a Tag  
icon for a canonical tag-cloud, add a Sigma icon for a frequency- 
weighted word list, a Bugle or Drum for author-selected weight, etc.

The actual meaning of the icons need not be crystal clear if  
customary usage can be promoted and access to proper definitions (a  
lå the Creative Commons licensing terms) is only a click away.

- Will
Will Parker
wparker at ChannelingDesign.com

"The only people who value your specialist knowledge are the ones who  
already have it." - William Tozier