Controlled language

Controlled natural languages (CNLs) are artificial languages built by simplifying the grammar and reducing the number of words in the language to avoid ambiguity or complexity.

There are two types of controlled languages: some designed to help non-native speakers of a language, and some designed to enable automatic semantic analysis.

The first type of languages (often called "simplified" or "technical" languages) are used by businesses or industries to improve the quality of technical writing, and possibly simplify the (semi-)automatic translation to other languages. For example, the ASD Simplified Technical English, Caterpillar Technical English, and IBM's Easy English.

These languages guide the writer by general rules such as "write short and simple sentences", "use the person's name ("John Smith" for example) instead of saying "him", and "talk about who is doing something, rather than what is being done, unless you need to say what is being done".

The second type of languages have a well defined rules of construction and interpretation, and can be matched to formal languages, such as first-order logic. Those languages can be used to handle information, to support fully automatic checks to test that they are correct and to search for information easily.

Languages

Existing logic-based controlled natural languages include:

• Attempto Controlled English
• Common Logic Controlled English (CLCE)
• Metalog's Pseudo Natural Language (PNL)
• Ordnance Survey Rabbit
• Processable ENGlish (PENG)
• Semantic parameterization
• Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Business Rules

Other existing controlled natural languages:

• ASD Simplified Technical English (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe—formerly AECMA)
• E-Prime
• Gellish
• Newspeak, the fictional language in the dystopia novel 1984 by George Orwell, is a controlled natural language as well as a semi-constructed language.
• Uwe Muegge's Controlled Language Optimized for Uniform Translation (CLOUT)
• Voice of America's Special English

Other pages

• Constructed language
• Knowledge representation
• Natural language processing

Other websites

• Controlled Natural Languages (Macquarie University)
• Overview of Controlled English and HyperSTE, customizable Controlled English checker
• Simplus – Simplified English Checker
• Freelance Translation
• acrolinx® Information Quality Suite – Customizable controlled language checker for many authoring environments
• PERMIS Policy Editor uses controlled English in its user interface
• Akis, Jennifer Wells, and William R. Sisson. (2002) Improving Translatability: A Case Study at Sun Microsystems, Inc.Globalization Insider (Localization Industry Standards Association's e-magazine).
• Kohl, John R. (2008) Language Quality-Assurance Software: Optimizing Your Documentation for a Global Audience.Intercom 55.5 (May), pp. 6–9.
• Kohl, John R. (2007) Assisted Writing and Editing at SAS. ClientSideNews Magazine 7.8 (August): 7-10.