Locating digital coded words which are both acceptable misspellings and acceptable inflections of digital coded query words

摘要

A method is disclosed using a digital data processing means for determining from a plurality of candidate words at least one which is both an acceptable spelling and an acceptable inflection of a query word. The words are represented by machine readable coded signals and comprise plural characters. The steps are as follows: Determine a stem portion of such query word. Form a suffix class indication for any one of a plurality of classes in which the query word may be included. Compare the determined query stem with characters in the beginning of such candidate words for finding acceptable and nonacceptable spelling matches. Determine an ending portion, if any, in each individual candidate words which is an acceptable spelling match. Utilize the suffix class indication to select a representation of at least one acceptable suffix for the candidate words. Compare a representation of the at least one selected acceptable suffix and the determined ending portions in the individual candidate words which are acceptable spelling matches to determine at least one predetermined acceptable relation therebetween.