Hi Xavier --

At 11:17 PM 10/23/2005 +0200, you wrote:
I have never seen an algorithm mentioned, nor even a 
description of some approach, for how the translation from natural 
language to some query language can be automated.

The system online at the site below shows one way to automate this. 

The approach to natural language is lightweight, in the sense that no dictionary or grammar construction is needed, yet the vocabulary is open, and the English (or French, German...) semantics are strict.

The lightweight natural language is backed by heavyweight inference that automatically combines back- and forward chaining, and that can also generate and run complex SQL over the net when needed

The author- and user-interface is a browser, and shared use is free.

 The slides

   www.reengineeringllc.com/Internet_Business_Logic_e-Government_Presentation.pdf

describe this further, and the online examples

  www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/RDFQueryLangComparison1.agent
  www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/OntologyInterop2.agent
  www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/MergeOntologies1.agent
  www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/OwlResearchOnt.agent
  www.reengineeringllc.com/demo_agents/FeaReferenceModelOntology2.agent

may be good ones to start with.

HTH.  Thanks in advance for comments.

                        -- Adrian


INTERNET BUSINESS LOGIC (R)
Online at www.reengineeringllc.com
Shared, community use is FREE.

Adrian Walker
Reengineering
PO Box 1412
Bristol
CT 06011-1412 USA

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