On Sunday, August 12, 2001 8:46 AM
Karl Eichwalder wrote:

[Lou Burnard wrote:]
>>  The fourth edition, "P4" will be fully compatible with XML, as well
>>  as remaining compatible with SGML (XML's predecessor and the
>>  syntactic basis for P3).

> This statement is kind of senseless.  It will remain compatible with
> P3.  SGML is not XML's predecessor; XML is SGML, XML
> just happens to use a well defined SGML declaration.  Okay, you
> know this matter of fact.

Sorry, but I don't think it's senseless at all. Your objection to LB's
way of putting it  is valid enough in the realms of pure theory. Of
course XML "is" SGML. But it would be equally true to say HTML "is"
SGML, and equally useless and confusing to some readers of this list,
and to all those potential beneficiaries who have yet to grasp the value
of the TEI for their work

A kind of virtual parricide is implicit in the whole XML undertaking.
XML is an application of SGML partly designed (and I'd say eventually
destined) to eclipse and replace its parent. OK, not parricide, SGML
isn't being killed off, and even if it were its DNA lives on in its
offspring. But it's being gently moved into an expensive and luxurious
Aged Persons Home, where it will doubtless survive for a long time in
robust health and be regularly visited by those who still love it
dearly. It may even pen occasional peppery letters to the Times
declaring that schemas will never work. But for a lot of us who were
scared stiff of SGML when it was in its heyday, XML will be the de facto
meta-language of our encoding schemes, and the historical fact of its
progeniture will eventually be of no more than occasional historical
interest. Yes, P4 revised will still say SGML everywhere, but either P5
when it eventually arrives will foreground XML, or the TEI will have to
book a place in that Home (and I doubt whether its friends will want to
come up with the residence fees for very long: they have better uses for
their funds)

Michael
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Michael Beddow   http://www.mbeddow.net/
XML and the Humanities page:  http://xml.lexilog.org.uk/
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