====== Taxonomy of Semantics ======

[[dido:05-semantics:start|Return to Semantics]]

===== Overview =====

The taxonomy of semantics identifies where meaning appears in DIDO Solutions work. The taxonomy supports analysis, discussion, [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:t:traceability|traceability]], and governance. It does not require every project to create a separate artifact for every kind of [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:s:semantic|semantics]].

The taxonomy helps architects identify which semantic concerns apply to a given project, which artifacts express those concerns, and which source governs the intended meaning.

DIDO Solutions uses this taxonomy to prevent the common collapse of [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:s:semantic|semantics]] into [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:o:ontology|ontology]], [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:r:rdf|RDF]], or [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:o:owl|OWL]]. Those artifacts and technologies play important roles, but they represent only some forms of semantic content.

The taxonomy provides a classification scheme for discussing, tracing, governing, and implementing meaning across DIDO Solutions efforts. It does not define separate project phases or mandatory deliverables.

===== Semantic Overlap =====

Semantic concerns often overlap. A single artifact expresses several kinds of semantics at the same time. For example, a [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:j:json_schema|JSON Schema]] for an FX trade message expresses schema semantics through field structure, datatype semantics through date and decimal constraints, type semantics through domain-specific identifiers, and rule semantics through validation constraints.

Examples of overlap include:

  * A terminology record expresses terminological semantics and supports vocabulary semantics
  * A [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:c:conceptual_model|conceptual model]] expresses conceptual semantics and provides [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:t:traceability|traceability]] for ontological semantics
  * An [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:r:rdf_graph|RDF graph]] expresses graph semantics and represents selected ontological semantics
  * An [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:o:owl|OWL]] [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:o:ontology|ontology]] expresses OWL semantics and selected ontological semantics
  * A [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:s:schema|schema]] expresses schema semantics, datatype semantics, and selected type semantics
  * A [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:r:report|report]] expresses report semantics and includes schema, datatype, rule, and policy semantics
  * A conformance test expresses conformance semantics and validates rule, lifecycle, schema, or report semantics
  * Implementation logic expresses implementation semantics when it preserves [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:t:traceability|traceability]] to governed semantic sources

A project selects the semantic concerns that matter for its scope, risk, stakeholders, and implementation context. A small demonstration often uses terminology, conceptual semantics, schema semantics, and implementation semantics. A governed financial reporting system often uses report semantics, policy semantics, rule semantics, conformance semantics, lifecycle semantics, type semantics, datatype semantics, and traceability to [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:f:fibo|FIBO]], [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:s:sbrm|SBRM]], or other authoritative sources.

The taxonomy, therefore, provides a map of semantic concerns, not a required work breakdown structure.

===== Taxonomy Details =====

The following semantic categories occur under this taxonomy.

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