Re: terminology: what's a data model

Brian McBride wrote:

> At 14:48 30/10/2002 -0500, Frank Manola wrote:
> 
>> The Primer calls RDF a "data model" in several places.  Do you want me 
>> to change it?
> 
> 
> I think that is a judgement call for you Frank.  In trying to get some 
> consistency of presentation I'm heading towards RDF is a language with 
> one abstract syntax and several concrete syntaxes as being the 'formal' 
> model of what we think RDF is.  I know not everyone is comfortable with 
> that, but we need to pick one.
> 
> However, as Graham has pointed out, when explaining things to folks, the 
> term 'data model' might well be more appropriate so, if in context you 
> think data model is a better term, then there is no blanket - "you are 
> not allowed to use that term" injunction.  Jeremy's text, something 
> along the lines of RDF's Abstract Syntax, sometimes called the RDF Data 
> Model, ... seemed to me to set the right sort of tone.
> 
> Brian
> 


Sounds like a fine resolution to me.

--Frank




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Frank Manola                   The MITRE Corporation
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