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Re: [ontolog-forum] NLP2RDF

To: "[ontolog-forum] " <ontolog-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Kingsley Idehen <kidehen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Pat Hayes <phayes@xxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 13:11:02 -0600
Message-id: <008E5795-0E8B-4C6D-A6E6-0A64C8A20417@xxxxxxx>

On Dec 4, 2011, at 12:34 PM, Kingsley Idehen wrote:    (01)

> On 12/4/11 12:23 PM, Pat Hayes wrote:
>> Many in the RDF world would agree. However, RDF is quite independent of 
>RDF/XML. Much of the world's RDF is written using other notations, and the RDF 
>standard was written using an 'abstract' (graph) syntax precisely to allow a 
>variety of surface notations. Just like ISO Common Logic, in fact.
> All,
> 
> I think we continue to miss a fundamental issue that is the root of so much 
>confusion. Personally, I believe positioning RDF as both a data model and a 
>collection of syntaxes is the root of the problem.    (02)

And what do you see "the problem" as being, exactly? Seems to me that RDF has 
(a whole host of tedious small problems, but) no really big, central problem.     (03)

Still I agree that there is a muddle in the RDF world having to do with how 
best to "layer" more expressive notations (such as OWL) onto RDF. This was 
clear (and gave rise to much heated discussion) when the RDF and OWL specs were 
being written, before 2004. I think we have all learned to live with the 
awkwardnesses that it caused, however. Certainly none of the extremely dire 
consequences that were predicted have come to pass. OWL and RDF do get used 
together, and applications do actually work. OWL2 and RIF have been published 
and both layered onto RDF syntax, although admittedly in both cases alternative 
notations are more elegant and will likely get used in dedicated applications.     (04)

> 
> A very simple question. How is RDF (the model) different from the long 
>established Entity-Attribute-Value model?    (05)

Very abstractly and formally, perhaps not very different. In practice, however, 
and in intention and design, very different. Chiefly, RDF allows (and is mostly 
comprised by) data in which the 'value' is itself also an 'entity', so that one 
finds 'chains' or even (!!) graphs of links, which can get quite dense. This is 
not even contemplated in most EVA approaches. Second, the RDF identifiers are 
URIs (IRIs), as you know, which are globally unique and are links that can be 
followed using HTTP. This is hugely important and alone is enough to make 
RDF/OWL quite different in design from previous data models. And third, at 
least according to Wikipedia, EVA assumes that the entities are sparse in the 
overall attribute space, which is not part of the RDF design or assumptions.     (06)

Pat    (07)


> What does it bring to the table that differentiates it?
> 
> I have some answers to the above, but I would like to see if responses to 
>what's posed above (from others) could lead to clarity that's desperately 
>needed re. RDF.
> 
> 
> Links:
> 
> 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entity%E2%80%93attribute%E2%80%93value_model 
>- EAV model
> 2. http://ycmi.med.yale.edu/nadkarni/eav_cr_frame.htm -- EAV/CR .
> 
> -- 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Kingsley Idehen       
> Founder&  CEO
> OpenLink Software
> Company Web: http://www.openlinksw.com
> Personal Weblog: http://www.openlinksw.com/blog/~kidehen
> Twitter/Identi.ca handle: @kidehen
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> LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kidehen
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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