diff --git a/spec/index.html b/spec/index.html index d3782d4..4f226c4 100644 --- a/spec/index.html +++ b/spec/index.html @@ -820,20 +820,47 @@
rdf:nilA triple term is a construct defined in the RDF 1.2 Concepts and Abstract - Syntax specification [[RDF12-CONCEPTS]], referring to an RDF triple that - is used as a value, specifically, in the object position of another triple. - Importantly, a triple term does not imply assertion; that is, the triple it - denotes is not necessarily asserted in the RDF graph. This enables the - representation of metadata or commentary about triples that may or may not - be part of the asserted graph content, including potentially contradictory - relationships. For a triple term to be considered an asserted triple, it - must also appear explicitly in an RDF graph as a top-level triple. Otherwise, - it remains unasserted and serves primarily as a reference or subject of metadata.
-A triple term can be the object of a triple whose predicate is +
+ A triple term is a construct defined in [[RDF12-CONCEPTS]], referring to an RDF triple that is used + as a value, specifically, in the object position of another triple. This use represents a reference to a proposition, + and, importantly, a triple term does not by itself imply assertion; that is, the proposition it denotes + is not necessarily a fact asserted by the RDF graph. This is only the case if that triple is also + asserted in the RDF graph — that is, if it is a direct element of that set of triples. + Otherwise, it remains unasserted and serves primarily as a reference or as the subject of metadata. + This enables the representation of metadata or commentary about triples that may or may not be part + of the asserted graph content, including potentially contradictory relationships. +
+ ++ RDF terms that appear in a triple term have the same denotation as when they appear in an asserted + triple in the graph. For this reason, triple terms are said to be transparent. +
+ +
+ A triple term can be the object of a triple whose predicate is
rdf:reifies. In such cases, the resulting triple is referred
- to as a reifying triple, and its subject is termed a reifier. The reifier
- can be used to make further statements about the triple term.
+ When the underlying triple S P O is not asserted in the graph, a reifying triple (i.e., a triple whose predicate is rdf:reifies and whose object is the triple term <<S P O>>) together with further triples that use its reifier as subject constitute a description of the reifier resource, which denotes the proposition expressed by <<S P O>>. This is distinct from a triple annotation as defined in RDF Concepts, which requires that the underlying triple be asserted in the same graph.
+
+ Triple terms always denote abstract, logical propositions, while reifiers may denote a variety of
+ things related to these propositions (such as a statement or belief that the proposition holds, or
+ an event or circumstance that makes the proposition true). It is therefore expected that triple
+ terms are commonly used as objects of reifying triples, and that reifiers (rather than the triple
+ terms) are used in further descriptions. Because of the diversity of use cases that reifiers aim to
+ serve, the meaning of the rdf:reifies property is deliberately generic. Multiple,
+ distinct reifiers may exist for the same proposition (e.g., from different sources or contexts), and,
+ conversely, one reifier may be used for several propositions.
+
rdfs:Propositionrdfs:Proposition is the class of reified triples.