Toward non-textual representation of social anthropology: Modeling cultures as knowledge graphs

Peponakis, Manolis, Kapidakis, Sarantos, Doerr, Martin and Tountasaki, Eirini Toward non-textual representation of social anthropology: Modeling cultures as knowledge graphs. Journal of Digital Social Research, 2026, vol. 8, n. 1, pp. 68-86. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

The study examines the emerging field of knowledge representation in the context of the semantic web and linked data, with a focus on knowledge produced within the social sciences - particularly in sociocultural anthropology. It starts from the premise that natural language, especially its textualized form, has long been the primary vehicle for producing and communicating anthropological research. Informed by theoretical approaches from information science, the study explores how computational methods may offer alternative modes of structuring and representing anthropological knowledge. It challenges the dominance of text as the sole representational medium and highlights the potential of semantic modeling to open new epistemological pathways. At the same time, it acknowledges the conceptual and methodological challenges involved in such a transition. This approach shifts emphasis away from metrics and programming, foregrounding processes of conceptualization, semantics, meaning, and reasoning as key to engaging with anthropological knowledge in digital environments.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: semantic web; ontologies; knowledge representation; knowledge graphs; computational anthropology; computational ethnography
Subjects: I. Information treatment for information services > ID. Knowledge representation.
I. Information treatment for information services > IL. Semantic web
Depositing user: Manolis Peponakis
Date deposited: 18 Sep 2026 05:48
Last modified: 18 Sep 2026 05:48
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/49031

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