On Fri, Feb 13, 2004 at 04:11:43PM -0000, Pete Johnston wrote:
> > 5. Terminology section 8
> >
> > a. Definition of value string
> > Re advice not to contain mark-up -
> > I thought marked up values were 'rich values'??
> >
> > b. definition of element... seems to me if one defines 'element
> > refinements' as property with narrower semantics then one
> > logically should
> > to define 'elements' as 'top-terms' or such-like. According to the
> > definitions here all properties are elements, and some are
> > also element
> > refinements too. There just isn't a name for those elements
> > that are not element refinements..... oh well!
>
> I think this is fine as it is. The notion of a "top-term" is not
> important to the model, which is defined in terms of "properties".
> Personally I think it's a good thing not to privilege the "top terms",
> but I don't feel that strongly about it, and if it fits better with
> usage elsewhere then we could change the usage in this doc so that
> "element" is not used as a synonym of property but refers only to "top
> terms", and "properties" covers both "elements" and their refinements?
It is worth recalling here that the statement of principles
currently in use [1] does in fact use "property" to cover
both elements and element refinements:
2.1. Elements
An Element is a property of a resource. As intended here,
"properties" are attributes of resources -- characteristics
that a resource may "have", such as a Title, Publisher,
or Subject.
2.2. Qualifiers
"Qualifiers" is the generic heading traditionally used
for terms now usually referred to specifically as Element
Refinements or Encoding Schemes.
2.2.1. Element Refinements.
An Element Refinement is a property of a resource which
shares the meaning of a particular DCMI Element but with
narrower semantics. ...
We have in the past considered undertaking various sorts
of "terminology reform" to set everything straight --
with proposals ranging from the cautious ("change 'element
refinements' to 'refined elements'") to the radical ("change
'element refinements' to 'elements'"). But the fact remains
that there are alot of legacy documents, user guides, and
explanations out there using a certain terminology, and any
change in that terminology would risk making people _really_
confused.
Tom
[1] http://dublincore.org/usage/documents/2003/11/18/principles/
--
Dr. Thomas Baker [log in to unmask]
Institutszentrum Schloss Birlinghoven mobile +49-160-9664-2129
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft work +49-30-8109-9027
53754 Sankt Augustin, Germany fax +49-2241-144-2352
Personal email: [log in to unmask]
|