Generating narrations of nested SQL queries using context-free grammars

George Obaido; Abejide Ade-Ibijola; Hima Vadapalli

doi:10.1109/ICTAS.2019.8703620

Generating narrations of nested SQL queries using context-free grammars

George Obaido
, Abejide Ade-Ibijola
, Hima Vadapalli

Johannesburg Business School

University of the Witwatersrand

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the software industry, Structured Query Language (SQL) remains a highly sought-after skill required by most employers. SQL is widely adopted as the preferred declarative language to manipulate data in relational databases. However, the process of comprehending written and new queries turns out to be difficult, especially for novices. To address this problem, a plethora of tools have been developed to assist a novice understand queries using different approaches via visualisation and narration. This paper describes a SQL Narrator designed using a Context-free Grammar that reads and generates narrations for queries using predefined templates. The SQL Narrator is able to narrate nested queries cascaded with balanced parentheses. The generated narrations can be used in assisting students to comprehend nested SQL queries in learning environments. A survey conducted on 161 participants showed that 98.1% agreed that they were able to understand nested queries using our SQL Narrator.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781538673652
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTAS.2019.8703620
Publication status	Published - 30 Apr 2019
Event	3rd Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019 - Durban, South Africa Duration: 6 Mar 2019 → 8 Mar 2019

Publication series

Name	2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019

Conference

Conference	3rd Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019
Country/Territory	South Africa
City	Durban
Period	6/03/19 → 8/03/19

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education

Keywords

Comprehension aid for queries
Context-free grammar applications
Learning via narrations
SQL query narration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Computer Science Applications
Computer Networks and Communications
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Information Systems and Management
Education

Access to Document

10.1109/ICTAS.2019.8703620

Cite this

Obaido, G., Ade-Ibijola, A., & Vadapalli, H. (2019). Generating narrations of nested SQL queries using context-free grammars. In 2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019 Article 8703620 (2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTAS.2019.8703620

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abstract = "In the software industry, Structured Query Language (SQL) remains a highly sought-after skill required by most employers. SQL is widely adopted as the preferred declarative language to manipulate data in relational databases. However, the process of comprehending written and new queries turns out to be difficult, especially for novices. To address this problem, a plethora of tools have been developed to assist a novice understand queries using different approaches via visualisation and narration. This paper describes a SQL Narrator designed using a Context-free Grammar that reads and generates narrations for queries using predefined templates. The SQL Narrator is able to narrate nested queries cascaded with balanced parentheses. The generated narrations can be used in assisting students to comprehend nested SQL queries in learning environments. A survey conducted on 161 participants showed that 98.1\% agreed that they were able to understand nested queries using our SQL Narrator.",

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Obaido, G, Ade-Ibijola, A & Vadapalli, H 2019, Generating narrations of nested SQL queries using context-free grammars. in 2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019., 8703620, 2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 3rd Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019, Durban, South Africa, 6/03/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTAS.2019.8703620

Generating narrations of nested SQL queries using context-free grammars. / Obaido, George; Ade-Ibijola, Abejide; Vadapalli, Hima.
2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2019. 8703620 (2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Ade-Ibijola, Abejide

AU - Vadapalli, Hima

PY - 2019/4/30

Y1 - 2019/4/30

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AN - SCOPUS:85065773315

T3 - 2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019

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Obaido G, Ade-Ibijola A, Vadapalli H. Generating narrations of nested SQL queries using context-free grammars. In 2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2019. 8703620. (2019 Conference on Information Communications Technology and Society, ICTAS 2019). doi: 10.1109/ICTAS.2019.8703620

Generating narrations of nested SQL queries using context-free grammars

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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