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Subject:Re: SGML, XML, HTML, etc. From:mpriestl -at- ca -dot- ibm -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 6 Jun 2001 12:43:59 -0400
Leslie writes:
>Let's use an analogy: suppose I decide that English just has too many
words
>and too complex of a spelling, and too complex of a grammar, so I pick
say,
>300 words, and I limit my writing, reading, and speaking to just that
>limited sub-set. And suppose I always use only noun/verb sentences. And I
>only use commas, periods, and question marks (no semi-colons, exclaimation
>points, etc.) Am I still speaking English? Yes! Just because XML is a
>sub-set of SGML, and serves largely the same purpose (that of a
>meta-language) doesn't invalidate the fact that it is still SGML.
Agreed (though in point of fact the claim that XML is a subset of the SGML
standard falls short in a couple of areas, in general this is true).
This doesn't mean that XML is an "application" of SGML, or that XML is
defined by an SGML DTD.
Let's say SGML is comparable to English, and XML is comparable to
Simplified English, and a DTD is a particular sentence. You can create
sentences in both English and Simplified English, but it is incorrect to
state that Simplified English is a sentence.
>You can argue and quote propaganda until you're blue in the face,
Huh?
>but the matter of fact is XML is SGML.
What you say is true in the sense that XML defines a subset of the SGML
standard, as I "quoted" in my previous message, but false if you insist on
representing XML as a markup language, on the level of HTML or WML, defined
by an SGML DTD.
In any case, I'm done arguing. If you're this intent on being wrong, it's
your privilege. I have no more patience for you.
Michael Priestley
DITA Specialization Architect
mpriestl -at- ca -dot- ibm -dot- com
Dept 833 IBM Canada t/l: 778-3233 phone: 416-448-3233
Toronto Information Development
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