The LiLa Knowledge Base
Querying Interoperable Latin Resources
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60923/issn.2532-8816/23506Keywords:
Latin, Linked Open Data, Interoperability, Linguistic Resources, SPARQLAbstract
The proliferation of digital linguistic resources for Latin has created significant research opportunities, yet their potential is often constrained by a lack of interoperability. Developed in isolation, many corpora, dictionaries, and lexicons use heterogeneous formats, query languages, annotation criteria and tag sets, hindering integrated data analysis. The LiLa (Linking Latin) project addresses this challenge by creating a Knowledge Base of interconnected resources built on Linked Open Data principles. At its core is a lemma-based architecture, where a central Lemma Bank harmonizes divergent lemmatization practices across different sources, enabling seamless data integration. This paper introduces the fundamental structure of the LiLa Knowledge Base, which employs standard ontologies like OntoLex-Lemon and models data using RDF. We demonstrate the practical value of this interoperable ecosystem through a series of ready-to-use SPARQL queries. These use cases showcase how researchers can perform complex, cross-resource analyses, such as comparing lexical inventories between Classical and Medieval texts, examining word formation, or tracing semantic concepts across multiple corpora and dictionaries. By linking previously fragmented data, LiLa not only streamlines scholarly inquiry but also establishes a new paradigm for creating comprehensive, interconnected digital ecosystems for (not only) historical languages, making Latin a model for linguistic resource interoperability.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Marco Passarotti, Eleonora Litta
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