tcworld conference 2026 Conference program Detail

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From Terminology to Meaning: Knowledge Models for Humans and AI

  • Workshop
  • Information Modeling & Knowledge Structure
  • Noelani Walker-Koser

    Noelani Walker-Koser

    • NEW Language Solutions
  • Tom Winter

    Tom Winter

    • Deutsche Bahn AG

Contents

We are presenting a workshop on behalf of the DTT (Deutscher Terminologie-Tag, the German Terminology Association) that shows how organizations can move from terminology to meaning by building knowledge models for humans and AI. We explain why preferred terms alone are no longer sufficient. Humans and AI systems need shared concepts, controlled vocabularies, context, examples, usage conditions, and explicit semantic structures to interpret, exchange, and reuse information consistently. This includes not only preferred terms, but also admitted and deprecated alternatives and conceptual relations that show how concepts are alike, how they differ, where they are used, and how they fit into a wider knowledge system. In the hands-on part, participants apply these principles to bilingual material, enrich terms with context, review a taxonomy, and build a simple ontology for a chatbot scenario.

Takeaways

Participants learn how context, examples, related concepts, and usage conditions turn terminology into shared meaning for humans and AI.

Prior knowledge

Due to time constraints and the hands-on nature of the workshop, participants must have practical experience in concept-oriented terminology work and in handling terminological entries. They must also know what an AI chatbot is and be able to work with one. Experience with multilingual content and basic knowledge of concept maps or concept systems is recommended.

Speakers

Noelani Walker-Koser

Noelani Walker-Koser

  • NEW Language Solutions
Biography

Noelani Walker-Koser ist Spezialistin für Terminologie und kontrollierte Sprache, Beraterin für Sprachlösungen und technische Redakteurin mit 40 Jahren Erfahrung in Übersetzung, technischer Dokumentation, Terminologiemanagement, Lokalisierung und Sprachdienstleistungen. Sie war als Tool- und Prozessverantwortliche für Terminologie und kontrollierte Sprache tätig und unterstützt heute Organisationen durch NEW Language Solutions mit Fokus auf sprachliche Ressourcen, mehrsprachige Inhalte, kontrollierte Sprache und KI-taugliche Inhalte. Im Mittelpunkt ihrer Arbeit steht die Unterstützung von Organisationen beim Aufbau der Terminologie, der Unternehmenssprache, des Kontexts und der semantischen Strukturen, die sie für klare Kommunikation und wiederverwendbare Wissensmodelle benötigen. Sie betrachtet Unternehmenssprache als wesentlich dafür, dass KI die Sprache des Unternehmens spricht, dass sich Mitarbeitende mit dem Unternehmen und seiner Kultur identifizieren und dass Kunden die Organisation an ihrer Sprache wiedererkennen. Darüber hinaus arbeitet sie eng mit Anbietern von Sprachtechnologie zusammen, um Software, Dokumentation und Benutzererfahrung zu verbessern. Noelani ist Mitglied im Deutschen Terminologie-Tag (DTT), bei tekom/tcworld, Women in Localization und GALA (Globalization and Localization Association).

Noelani Walker-Koser is a terminology and controlled language specialist, language solutions consultant, and technical language editor with 40 years of experience in translation, technical documentation, terminology management, localization, and language services. She has worked as a tool and process owner for terminology and controlled language and now supports organizations through NEW Language Solutions, focusing on governed language assets, multilingual content, controlled language, and AI-ready content. Her work centers on helping organizations build the terminology, corporate language, context, and semantic structures needed for clear communication and reusable knowledge models. She sees corporate language as essential for AI to speak the company’s language, for employees to identify with the organization and its culture, and for customers to recognize the organization through its language. She also works closely with language technology companies to improve software, documentation, and user experience. Noelani is a member of Deutscher Terminologie-Tag (DTT), tekom/tcworld, Women in Localization, and GALA (Globalization and Localization Association).

Tom Winter

Tom Winter

  • Deutsche Bahn AG
Biography

Tom Winter is a Corporate Language and Semantic Technologies expert at Deutsche Bahn AG, where he drives the transformation of corporate language into ontology-based, interoperable knowledge structures. He establishes a semantic framework in which terminology serves as a reference layer for enterprise knowledge models. His work enables applications such as machine translation, generative AI, and Digital Twins. On behalf of the DTT, he teaches the intermediate terminology training modules on Knowledge Management and Systems and is a sought-after speaker on Corporate Language, Knowledge Management, Data, and AI. In his talks, he emphasizes that consistent terminology and corporate language are essential foundations for scalable AI. After serving as Chairman of the Deutscher Terminologie-Tag e. V. (DTT) until 2025, he continues to contribute as a board member and is also a member of the Rat für Deutschsprachige Terminologie (RaDT).

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