The Salience data directory contains an underlying database of sentiment-bearing phrases, this is a binary file which cannot be edited by users.
On top of the sentiment database is a “hand-scored dictionary” (HSD file). This is a text file which can be edited and extended, and entries within the HSD file override the underlying sentiment database.
This helps in cases of industry-specific jargon. For instance, in the networking equipment, “denial of service” are frequently used in product literature and is typically negative.
The Windows distribution ships with an application called the Sentiment Toolkit, which is designed for the task of creating and managing HSD files. See the blog article Adjusting out-of-the-box Salience sentiment
Tools to allow customers to build their own sentiment models.