RDF-ISSUE-79 (undefined-datatype): What is the value of a literal whose datatype IRI is not a datatype? [RDF Concepts]

RDF-ISSUE-79 (undefined-datatype): What is the value of a literal whose datatype IRI is not a datatype? [RDF Concepts]

http://www.w3.org/2011/rdf-wg/track/issues/79

Raised by: Richard Cyganiak
On product: RDF Concepts

The RDF Concepts spec (in both 2004 and 1.1 versions) does not answer the question what's the value of a literal where the datatype IRI doesn't actually denote a datatype, like <"foo",http://example.com/not-a-datatype>. This is surprising, as there is a section that normatively defines the value of *all other* literals.

There are many possibilities:

(i) the spec leaves it undefined
(ii) that's not a valid RDF graph
(iii) it's a valid RDF graph, but the value, if any, is unknown
(iv) it's a valid RDF graph, and the literal is ill-typed

This should be made explicit.

The status quo is (i). I believe that the model theory says it's (iii).

Received on Wednesday, 9 November 2011 20:53:25 UTC