Name and Label: Discussion Dan Gillman

Problem In general use, Name and Label are synonyms In DDI, usage guidelines are imprecise There exists theory to meaningfully differentiate them However, it means different usages of current terms Following theory can be used to close this gap Clear meanings and usage of all terms are laid out Terms “designation” and “definition” distinguished

Initial Definitions Object Definition: anything perceivable or conceivable Examples Any physical thing is a perceivable object So is something detectable, such as light, voltage, or gust of wind Abstract things, such as polygons or laws, are conceivable objects Imagined things, such as unicorns, are also conceivable objects Concept Definition: unit of thought Special class of conceivable objects

Initial Definitions Examples The idea of an apple, as opposed to a particular one Same for any class of physical objects Numbers (not the numerals used to represent them) The idea of unicorns Extension (of Concepts) Definition: the totality of objects to which a concept corresponds A particular apple is in the extension of the concept apple General Concept (example: planet) Definition: concept whose extension does not have exactly one object

Initial Definitions Individual Concept (example: Saturn) Definition: concept whose extension has exactly one object Individual concepts can be hard to understand Think of me, Dan Gillman That thought is the concept of me This concept is individual – there is one object in its extension

Caveat The terms “sign” and “signifier” in this document are synonyms

Label Definition: representation of an object by a sign which denotes it Model -

Label A label is a handle by which to refer to some object Synonym for Label Name – commonly used in database parlance Can mean either an identifier or just some moniker Kinds of Labels: Identifier, Locator, Designation Identifier Definition: label intended as a means to dereference the labelled object Locator Definition: identifier with known dereferencing scheme

Label Designation - Label for concepts Definition: representation of a concept by a sign which denotes it Since a concept is a kind of object, then a designation is a kind of label Model -

Designation Similar usage as words in natural language Denote meanings Used in communication If similar to NL words, then can convey some meaning Has kinds: term, appellation, code, and symbol Term Definition: linguistic designation for general concept

Designation Appellation Definition: linguistic designation for individual concept Synonym: Name “Name” now has 2 nd use – Shouldn’t be used Examples are names of people Code Definition: non-linguistic designation, but denoted by alpha-numeric string Examples – consider categories in US Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes are non-linguistic and denoted by strings is a code So-called “labels” are terms, which are linguistic and denoted by strings Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is a term (commonly called a label)

Designation Symbol Any other designation For example – road signs, the meanings are understandable without words

Sign Used to denote objects Commonly, alpha-numeric strings But can be other things Example Number – a concept Numeral – sign, usually used to designate a number Signs 5, 5, 5 all designate the number five Each is perceivable object Actually, Sign is concept with extension limited to perceivable objects

Definitions Definition – natural language statement of the meaning of a concept Review definitions above Each starts with a previously defined concept then provides differentia These are intensional definitions An extensional definition delineates kinds: Example – Human teeth are incisors, canines, bicuspids, and molar

Definitions Difference between terms and definitions Terms are not necessarily statements Terms do not necessarily convey meaning, or at least not precisely Example – Unemployment as used by US Bureau of Labor Statistics Unemployment has English meaning, i.e., not employed Not the same as BLS meaning