Integrating Metadata and Data Syntax Translation

In syntax translation between languages, the advantage of using a single internal language as a translation mediator is a reduction of the total number of translators required. To achieve bi-directional translation between n languages requires n(n − 1) translators without a central mediator, as opposed to 2(n + 1) translators using an internal language. Our goal is to simplify syntax translation of metadata and data between several languages relevant to semantic web technologies by using a single internal language. We choose Web-PDDL as a translation mediator and primarily focus on syntax translation of OWL Ontologies and OWL/RDF data. Web-PDDL provides a flexible and expressive logical framework, which we can mold to metadata schema, however, we encounter several challenges related to structural differences between languages and logical assumptions. Through generalization of our methods, we describe how translation error gives rise to semantic translation, which can can effect the metadata–data relationship. The final product of our efforts is a functional bi-directional translator between OWL and Web-PDDL for both ontologies and their data. We can extend this application to provide translation between any pair of languages with only a constant increase is the number of translators.