[sc34wg3] "Topic Map" or "Topic Maps"?

[Steve Pepper]

At 03:36 02.01.2003 -0800, Mary Nishikawa wrote:
>>RM:   Topic Maps Metamodel
>
>I agree with "Topic Map Metamodel"
>
>...
>
>Please note that I dropped the (s) for the noun modifer. Since "Map" can 
>be used as a verb this can be read as Topic (subject) Maps (verb) 
>Metamodel (object). In one style guide I use,  the noun modifier should 
>not be used in the plural. This may not be a universal rule though. I can 
>check.

This issue deserves its own thread.

I have always (up until about a month ago) used the singular. To me it 
seemed most natural and correct, and it's what we did with TMQL and TMCL. 
For example, I have always talked about the "topic map paradigm".

Then I noticed that SRN - equally consistently - was using the plural 
("topic maps paradigm"). Not quite sure how long he's been doing this, but 
it's definitely not forever. In Baltimore the lack of consensus became all 
too clear when I formulated N372, so I consistified - in line with SRN's 
practice. (As this was one issue I wasn't going to stand up and fight over, 
who better to defer to than the inventor himself :)

We need to decide once and for all which way to go. Do we accept SRN's 
usage and rename TMCL and TMQL -- all of which I am happy to do? Or do well 
allow TMCL and TMQL to establish a precedent that we all stick to?

Perhaps SRN should explain *why* he prefers the plural?

Steve

--
Steve Pepper, Chief Executive Officer <pepper@ontopia.net>
Convenor, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/WG3  Editor, XTM (XML Topic Maps)
Ontopia AS, Waldemar Thranes gt. 98, N-0175 Oslo, Norway.
http://www.ontopia.net/ phone: +47-23233080 GSM: +47-90827246