[SCL] Approach to a concrete syntax

[Murray Altheim]

Tanel Tammet wrote:
> Murray Altheim wrote:
> 
>> I see absolutely no reason to believe that there's any difference
>> whatsoever in XML vs. RDF/RDFS in avoiding these issues. The same
>> issues for RDF/RDFS exist, and in fact are complicated by the fact
>> that RDF/RDFS brings with it its own set of semantics which are not
>> the same as SCL.
> 
> The basic approach to semantics in Pat's RDF semantics paper is the same
> as in the SCL draft.
> 
> Considering the RDF-friendliness: it seems that usability in some
> combination with RDF/RDFS is crucial in THIS project. Otherwise
> there simply wouldn't be this project. We have had FOL for ages, no
> need to invent new syntaxes for FOL (ie anybody can invent new syntaxes
> for FOL in their spare time as a hobby, but this is not an interesting
> activity for a serious group of people). When I wrote the XML-in-SCL
> draft I did consciously avoid thinking about the RDF issues, considering
> it just too EARLY, not unimportant. Wanted to have some discussion
> as we have had. Just that this discussion has run its course and has become
> less interesting than it initially was.

I suppose it's less interesting because there is less understanding
now that the issues of markup have hit the table.

> Considering the complications you refer to: I'd rather not try to solve
> all the possible complications there are and may appear in the future.
> 
> I'd rather try to look at the simple and clear parts and avoid solving
> the complexities. [...]

I think you're missing my point: in expressing SCL in RDF you have no
ability to avoid the complexities. You're mistaken if you think you
can gloss over the interpretive differences between SCL and RDF. This
would be like saying that expressing SCL in French you've avoided
the complexities, when in reality all you've done is add French
interpretation (and any ensuing ambiguities or misinterpretatins) to
the existing semantics.

As I said, the only difference between expressing SCL in XML and
expressing SCL in RDF is that the latter you're going to be dealing
with even *more* interpretation, not less.

Murray

...........................................................................
Murray Altheim                         http://kmi.open.ac.uk/people/murray/
Knowledge Media Institute
The Open University, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK7 6AA, UK                    .

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