280 Human-Centered Conceptualization and Natural Language Javier Andrade University of A Coruña, Spain Juan Ares University of A Coruña, Spain Rafael García University of A Coruña, Spain Santiago Rodríguez University of A Coruña, Spain Copyright © 2006, Idea Group Inc., distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI is prohibited. Andrés Silva Technical University of Madrid, Spain INTRODUCTION Conceptual modeling appears to be the heart of good software development (Jackson, 2000). The cre- ation of a conceptual model helps to understand the problem raised and represents the human-centered/ problem-oriented moment in the software process, as opposed to the computer-centered/software-ori- ented moment of the computational models (Blum, 1996). The main objective of human computer inter- action (HCI) is also precisely to make human beings the focal point that technology should serve rather than the other way round. The conceptual models are built with conceptual modeling languages (CMLs), whose specification involves constructors and rules on how to combine these constructors into meaningful statements about the problem. Considering the criterion of the representation capability of the CMLs in software engineering, their main drawback is that they remain too close to the development aspects (Jackson, 1995). The con- structors are too much oriented toward the compu- tational solution of the problem, and therefore, the problem is modeled with implementation concepts (computer/software solution sensitivity) rather than concepts that are proper to human beings (human/ problem sensitivity) (Andrade, Ares, García & Rodríguez, 2004). This stands in open opposition to what we have said about the moments in the soft- ware process and HCI. Moreover, this situation seriously complicates the essential validation of the achieved conceptual model, because it is drawn up in technical terms that are very difficult to under- stand by the person who faces the problem (Andrade et al., 2004). The semantics of the constructors determines the representation capability (Wand, Monarchi, Par- sons & Woo, 1995). Since the constructors are too close to implementation paradigms, the CMLs that currently are being used in software engineering are incapable of describing the problem accurately. Suitable human/problem-related theoretical guide- lines should determine which constructors must be included in a genuine CML. This article, subject to certain software-independent theoretical guidelines, proposes the conceptual elements that should be considered in the design of a real CML and, conse- quently, what constructors should be provided. The Background section presents the software- independent guidelines that were taken into account to identify the above-mentioned conceptual ele- ments. The Main Focus of the Article section dis- cusses the study that identified those elements. Finally, the Future Trends section presents the most interesting future trends, and the final section con- cludes.