Terminology chapter in P5

[Lou Burnard]

As work progresses on P5, it becomes increasingly clear that the current 
terminology chapter is a serious obstacle to getting the job done 
effectively and on time. Since most of the technical problems it 
exhibits are intimately concerned with aspects of its recommendations 
which are known to be outdated, and which we already announced at P4 
that we would no longer be supporting (I'm thinking in particular of its 
  support for both "nested" and "flat" terminological entries), it's now 
proposed to drop the chapter in its present form from P5.

That is not however to say that we want to drop any reference to 
terminological data from the TEI Guidelines: terminology is well within 
the scope of what the TEI should be addressing and we will certainly 
need at the very least some placeholder text concerning it in P5. 
Ideally, a new chapter! But as yet no-one is actioned to produce one, 
and the editors have more than enough on their plates already.

I discussed this problem briefly with Laurent Romary, and reproduce our 
exchange on the subject below. It would be much appreciated if Council 
members could give this some thought as a matter of urgency. I hope they 
will also appreciate that the decision to drop the chapter in its 
current form has not been taken lightly.

When this matter was last raised, over a year ago, the editors were 
asked to find out whether anyone was using it in its current form, and 
duly canvased the TEI List.  From memory, one or two respondents 
expressed interest in the area covered by the chapter, but no-one 
claimed to be using it in its present shape and form, which is (as 
mentioned above and in the prefatory note to the chapter in P4) now 
superceded by an established ISO standard.

<p>Lou

<p>-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Terminology
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 14:46:55 +0100
From: Laurent Romary <Laurent.Romary at loria.fr>
To: Lou Burnard <lou.burnard at computing-services.oxford.ac.uk>
CC: Syd Bauman <Syd_Bauman at Brown.edu>

Dear Lou,
A tough issue. I have to think and consult with the "old" Terminology
colleagues (Alan, Sue-Ellen, Gerhard etc.). I will come back to you in
a few days...
Cheers
Laurent

Le lundi, 1 déc 2003, à 14:42 Europe/Paris, Lou Burnard a écrit :

> Dear Laurent
>
> I am thinking about what we can realistically hope to do about the TEI
> terminology chapter in P5.
>
> I think the choices are:
>
> 1. Leave it as it is
>
> 2. Remove it
>
> 3. Replace it with a brief paragraph which points to ISO 12200, and
> explains how to embed XML documents from another namespace in the TEI
>
> 4. Replace it with a new chapter which presents in TEI-P5 style a
> generally useful subset of 12200, or a tagset compatible with same.
>
> Option 1 is a non-starter, I think. Options 3 and 4 both require effort
> from someone, and I don't know who is likely to be able to provide it.
> Which leaves Option 2, which I also feel decidedly uncomfortable with
> (though less so than with option 1)
>
> Do you have any suggestions? Would you or one of your colleagues maybe
> like to do the work -- I would be happy to translate it from French if
> that would make it easier.
>
> Is this something for the Romary-Ide-Erjavec SIG to take on?
>
> best wishes
>
> Lou
>
>
>