Re: [xml-dev] Terminology: vocabulary, grammar, or something else?(Re: [

[Michael Kay <mike@saxonica.com>]

I like the term "XML vocabulary".

To me, "grammar" is too narrow - it's focussed on syntax, not semantics. 
A vocabulary says what can appear in the document, and explains what it 
means.

"Ontology" also tries to do that, but it's wrong: ontology, (cf 
methodology), is the study of how to organize things, it's not the 
output of a specific study of a particular area. And while ontology 
gives you a model of the things you are talking about, it doesn't give 
you a concrete representation of those things in XML.

"Language" is OK in principle, but I think it confuses: if you use 
"language" at this level then you get embroiled in a discussion of 
whether XML is a language and if not, what the L stands for.

Michael Kay
Saxonica


On 15/11/2012 02:20, Graham Hannington wrote:
> Terminology question: does one define an XML vocabulary, an XML grammar,
> an XML language (".... Language language"), or something else?
>
> I think that an XML schema is something that describes "the thing", not
> the thing itself (feel free to argue otherwise).
>
> I tend to use the term "XML vocabulary", because I think that I am
> defining something that follows the grammar of XML. But I can see how one
> might say that an "XML grammar" (as Shomi uses the term) introduces its
> own specific grammatical rules (that is, not just names), within the
> bounds of XML grammar, and is therefore itself a grammar.
>
> Is there a standard term?
>
> Graham Hannington
>
> Fundi Software Pty Ltd  2012  ABN 89 009 120 290
>
>
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