Semantic Round-Tripping in Conceptual Modelling Using Restricted Natural Language

Conceptual modelling plays an important role in information system design and is one of its key activities. The modelling process usually involves domain experts and knowledge engineers who work together to bring out the required knowledge for building the information system. The most popular modelling approaches to develop these models include entity relationship modelling, object role modelling, and object-oriented modelling. These conceptual models are usually constructed graphically but are often difficult to understand by domain experts. In this paper we show how a restricted natural language can be used for writing a precise and consistent specification that is automatically translated into a description logic representation from which a conceptual model can be derived. This conceptual model can be rendered graphically and then verbalised again in the same restricted natural language as the specification. This process can be achieved with the help of a bi-directorial grammar that allows for semantic round-tripping between the representations.