计算机领域术语Ontology的Gruber定义具有奠基性作用,在中文语境下对其的准确理解十分重要。Ontology只能是"本体论",Substance才是"本体"。基于对4个关键词的分析,Gruber定义应被意译为"Ontology是本体论模型/概念模型",对此又从认识思维方式、语言学规律、模型研究方法3个方面给予了有利的论证。该观点的实际意义在于,它直接提示IT研究与开发人员"Ontology就是构建概念模型与使用概念模型"。
As the Gruber's defmition of Ontology plays a foundational role in the computer domain, it is very necessary to clarify what meaning of this definition in Chinese context. The term of Ontology is only corresponding with the Chinese word "BenTiLun". The English term substance is just the Chinese concept "BenTi". Based on the analysis of the four keywords in the Gruber's definition of Ontology, it should be interpreted as "the Ontology is an ontological model or conceptual model", and moreover, some supportive proofs for the conclusion are seized from the discussions of thinking manner, linguistics rule and model research method. The applied value of above interpretation is to reveal that the Ontology is just to build conceptual models and make use of them for IT R&D personnel