This document discusses how semantic technologies can be used to support digital humanities research. It describes knowledge production through both manual and automatic semantic annotation. Examples are given of analyzing literature and film from different historical periods and cultures. Research topics mentioned include semantic knowledge discovery, applications for digital libraries and cultural studies, and analyzing language evolution and rhetoric through narratology. Semantic annotation is presented as an enabling technology for digital humanities scholarship.

1. Semantic Technology for
Digital Humanities
Prof. Siegfried Handschuh
Dr. Brian Davis

3. spanish
cinema
film
analysis
speaking
research
structure and function in
literature and film of the
early modern
courtly literature
language
english job
and identity
interview corpus
privacy
research
The staging of violence in
contemporary irish
drama
project manual of
religious places of
memory
knowledge
Content analysis
of online media
Web blog
communication
colonial Things, Exotic
Animals and Imperial
Subject Constitution in
English Literature
A cultural study analysis
of reproductive
behaviour in France,
Spain and Germany

4. Knowledge Production: manual automatic Semantic Annotation
Domain Knowledge
Linguistic Knowledge
Rhetorical Knowledge
Speech Act Knowledge
Document Structure Knowledge
Citation Knowledge
Gilbert Schema Knowledge
...
[Handschuh et. al: KCap 2001]
[Handschuh et. al: EKAW 2002]
[Cimiano, Handschuh, Staab: WWW 2004]
[Handschuh: Thesis 2005]
[Cimiano, Handschuh: 2003]
[Groza, Handschuh, Decker: 2010]
[Groza, Handschuh, Bordea: ACM 2010]

5. Example:
Aggregate
term
frequencies
of
the
ac8on
verbs
field
in
Bri8sh
novels,
1785-­‐1900
Ac8on
verbs:
come, go,
drop, stand,
touch, see ...
5

6. Analysis of James Joyces Ulysses
Analysis of the work of Peter Handke
How do we write (and syndicate) deeper
stories in the same amount of time? Prompt
writers with relevant, deep insights from
previous articles?
Idea of a semantic Book editions
manager editor
Hans-Walter
Gabler
6

7. • Use-Case: Language Analysis
7

8. Joyce s Language
Joyce's language is
one of the most innovative
and grammar-breaking ever
Joyce s language reflects how he sees gender. Woman and
girl are very similar concepts in his language. However, love
and bad are features only related to a woman, but not to a girl.

9. Joyce s Language
Joyce's language is
one of the most innovative
and grammar-breaking ever
[Handschuh,
Novacek
2013]
Joyce s language strongly reflects the culture of that time. Dublin
was an Edwardian backwater of the British Empire. Streets were
dirty and harmful.

10. Large
Text
Visualisa8on
-­‐
Ulysses
TextBarcode
-­‐
Sen8ment
[Handschuh
2013]

11. WomenWriters
Database:
Annota8ng
Recep8ons

12. PaXern
Matching
over
Annota8ons
Monograph I: Clare’s prescriptive Rule was
supplemented by the reformer, St. Colette
(1381-1447), in the fifteenth century.
Annotation Pattern:
Trigger
Phrase
Authors
Works
à
Recep8on:
Type:
Engage
with
Arg
1:
Authors
Arg
2:
Works
Split

13. PaXern
Matching
over
Annota8ons
Recep8on:
Type:
Engage
with
Arg
1:
Authors
Arg
2:
Works
Monograph I: Clare’s prescriptive Rule was
supplemented by the reformer, St. Colette
(1381-1447), in the fifteenth century.

14. Samuel
BeckeX

15. Exploring
Punctua8on
and
Syntax
And while looking in this way for my keys I
found an ear which I threw into the copse
Pattern:
Token.category==CC,
({Token.kind==word})+
Token.orth==
UpperIni8al
From my neighbours chimneys the smoke rose
straight and blue.
Token.category==IN,
({Token.kind==word})+
Token.orth==
UpperIni8al
Pattern:

16. Seman8c
Annota8on:
Logainm.ie

17. Ontology-­‐based
Lookup
with
Logainm
17

18. Research Topics
• Foundation: Semantic Knowledge Discovery,
multi-dimensional, multi-lingual
• Applications: Platforms and tools for digital
humanities, digital library, digital memory, digital
culture, semantic edition-manager
• Language: Rhetoric and Narratology,
Language evolution
• Semantic Technology is an enabler for
Digital Humanities
18

19. Digital Humanities
Humanities
Semantic Technology