Abstract: A system, method, and computer-program product is provided for answering a natural language query in an automated manner. The answer is drawn from a body of textual information. Concepts in the body of textual information in a domain are expressed as a set of semantic headers. The semantic headers represent formalizations of select concepts in the information domain, and are created on the basis of expected queries. Moreover, queries are reduced to a canonical form. The answering process comprises the step of matching the formalized query, or translation formula, to one or more semantic headers. The pieces of text which correspond to those semantic headers are returned to the user as answers. The generality of a translation formula can be controlled. Steps can be taken to make the translation formula more general or less general. A user can clarify a translation formula if necessary. If the user provides a term that is not immediately recognized, then the user will be presented with a number of options.