Purpose

A 900000000000506000 $$ Language type reference set $$ supports the representation of language and dialects preferences for the use of particular descriptions. The most common use case for this type of reference set is to specify the acceptable and preferred terms for use within a particular country or region. However, the same type of reference set can also be used to represent preferences for use of descriptions in a more specific context such as a clinical specialty, organization or department.

Data structure

A Language reference set is a Component reference set that is used to indicate which descriptions contain terms that are acceptable or preferred in a particular language or dialect . Its structure is shown in the following table.

Table 39. Language reference set - Data structure
Field	Data type	Purpose
id	UUID	A 128 bit unsigned integer, uniquely identifying this reference set member . Different versions of a reference set member share the same id but have different effectiveTimes. This allows a reference set member to be modified or made inactive (i.e. removed from the active set) at a specified time.
effectiveTime	Time	The inclusive date or time at which this version of the identified reference set member became the current version. The current version of this reference set member at time T is the version with the most recent effectiveTime prior to or equal to time T .
active	Boolean	The state of the identified reference set member as at the specified effectiveTime . If active = 1 (true) the reference set member is part of the current version of the set, if active = 0 (false) the reference set member is not part of the current version of the set.
moduleId	SCTID	Identifies the SNOMED CT module that contains this reference set member as at the specified effectiveTime . The value must be a subtype of 900000000000443000 $$ Module (core metadata concept) $$ within the metadata hierarchy .
refsetId	SCTID	Identifies the reference set to which this reference set member belongs. In this case, a subtype of 900000000000506000 $$ Language type reference set $$ .
referencedComponentId	SCTID	The identifier of a description included in the language reference set .
acceptabilityId	SCTID	A subtype of 900000000000511003 $$ Acceptability $$ indicating whether the description is acceptable or preferred for use in the specified language or dialect .

In a Language reference set :

No more than one description of a specific description type associated with a single concept may have the acceptabilityId value 900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$ .
At least one description of description type synonym associated with each concept should have the acceptabilityId value 900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$. This is the preferred term for that concept in the specified language or dialect .

Metadata

The following metadata supports this reference set :

900000000000454005 $$ Foundation metadata concept $$
- 900000000000455006 $$ Reference set $$

Figure 13. Language References Sets in the Metadata Hierarchy
The immediate children of | Language type| will be languages. This level may be used to represent the "correct" language, where a language authority exists. In most cases, however, this level is likely to be empty.

Descriptor template

The table below shows an example of the descriptor for a specific reference sets that follows the 900000000000506000 $$ Language type reference set $$ pattern.

Table 40. Refset Descriptor rows for 900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$ .
refsetId	referencedComponentId (Referenced component)	attributeDescription (Attribute description)	attributeType (Attribute type)	attributeOrder (Attribute order)
900000000000456007 $$ Reference set descriptor $$	900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	900000000000510002 $$ Description in dialect $$	900000000000462002 $$ Description type component $$	0
900000000000456007 $$ Reference set descriptor $$	900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	900000000000511003 $$ Acceptability $$	900000000000461009 $$ Concept type component $$	1

Note: The tables above omit the initial four columns of data present in the release file. These follow the standards versioning pattern id, effectiveTime, active, moduleId. Additionally, to aid understanding, the tables above also show the term from one of the descriptions associated with each of the identified concept. The release file only contains the identifier .

Examples of language reference sets

Table 41. Sample content from 900000000000509007 $$ US English $$ .
refsetId	referencedComponentId (Description in dialect)	acceptabilityId (Acceptability)
900000000000509007 $$ US English $$	42969009 $$ Cauterization of skin {id:71693012} $$	900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$
900000000000509007 $$ US English $$	42969009 $$ Fulguration of subcutaneous tissue {id:71695017} $$	900000000000549004 $$ Acceptable $$
900000000000509007 $$ US English $$	80146002 $$ Appendectomy {id:132967011} $$	900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$
900000000000509007 $$ US English $$	80146002 $$ Excision of appendix {id:132972019} $$	900000000000549004 $$ Acceptable $$
900000000000509007 $$ US English $$	271737000 $$ Anemia {id:406636013} $$	900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$
900000000000509007 $$ US English $$	271737000 $$ Absolute anemia {id:406640016} $$	900000000000549004 $$ Acceptable $$
Table 42. Sample content from 900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$ .
refsetId	referencedComponentId (Description in dialect)	acceptabilityId (Acceptability)
900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	42969009 $$ Cauterisation of skin {id:493493018} $$	900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$
900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	42969009 $$ Fulguration of subcutaneous tissue {id:71695017} $$	900000000000549004 $$ Acceptable $$
900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	80146002 $$ Excision of appendix {id:132972019} $$	900000000000549004 $$ Acceptable $$
900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	80146002 $$ Appendicectomy {id:132973012} $$	900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$
900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	271737000 $$ Anaemia {id:406638014} $$	900000000000548007 $$ Preferred $$
900000000000508004 $$ GB English $$	271737000 $$ Absolute anaemia {id:406641017} $$	900000000000549004 $$ Acceptable $$

In the above examples, $$ Excision of appendix $$ is acceptable in both US and GB English. However, $$ Appendectomy $$ is preferred in US English and $$ Appendicectomy $$ is preferred in GB English.
Note: Any description which is not referenced by an active row in the relevant language reference set is regarded as unacceptable (i.e. not a valid synonym in the language or dialect ).

Search

Language Reference Set

Purpose

Data structure

Metadata

Descriptor template

Examples of language reference sets