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Re: Terminology: vocabulary, grammar, or something else?(Re: [

• From: John Cowan <cowan@mercury.ccil.org>
• To: Graham Hannington <graham_hannington@fundi.com.au>
• Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:07:56 -0500

Graham Hannington scripsit:

> I think that an XML schema is something that describes "the thing", not 
> the thing itself (feel free to argue otherwise).

Some schemas are grammars (those written as DTDs, in XSD, or in RNG),
some are not (those written in Schematron or Examplotron).

> 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.

Indeed.  "XML vocabulary" seems to be used for the set of element and
attribute names associated with a document, without a specific structure.
Thus XHTML 1.0 has a single vocabulary but three schemas (all of them
grammars): the strict, the transitional, and the frameset.

> Is there a standard term?

There are several terms according to the distinctions above, I think.

Michael Kay scripsit:

> "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.

My psychology is such that I get peeved when people peeve on the extension
of words in -ology from an object of study to the subject of that study.
Consider, among others, _terminology_ and _technology_.

-- 
But you, Wormtongue, you have done what you could for your true master.  Some
reward you have earned at least.  Yet Saruman is apt to overlook his bargains.
I should advise you to go quickly and remind him, lest he forget your faithful
service.  --Gandalf             John Cowan <cowan@ccil.org>

• References:
  • Which latest and greatest XML Standards Should I Use ForXML-Grammar-Fortune?
    • From: Shlomi Fish <shlomif@shlomifish.org>
  • Re: Which latest and greatest XML Standards Should I UseFor XML-Grammar-Fortune?
    • From: Liam R E Quin <liam@w3.org>
  • Re: Which latest and greatest XML Standards Should I UseFor XML-Grammar-Fortune?
    • From: Shlomi Fish <shlomif@shlomifish.org>
  • Terminology: vocabulary, grammar, or something else? (Re: Whichlatest and greatest XML Standards Should I Use For XML-Grammar-Fortune?)
    • From: "Graham Hannington" <graham_hannington@fundi.com.au>