I came across an interesting #ePrdctn Twitter conversation the other day about the need to use a common language or vocabulary when discussing various publishing technical production issues.
In these #ePrdctn (there’s also a Wiki page) discussions the topics can cover a wide number of subjects including XML markup (just what do you call a person that does that task), JavaScript programming (is that about writing scripts or code), data conversion for ePub and InDesign operations; in fact any topic that is involved in today’s publishing production environment.
Clearly a common word list or vocabulary is a benefit to any organisation when trying to define and describe its own workings.
Most common definitions of ‘Vocabulary’ today describe it as being about:
- The body of words used in a particular language
- A part of such a body of words used on a particular occasion or in a particular sphere: i.e. “the vocabulary of law” or “the vocabulary of nursing”.
It’s very clear that one person’s definition of a word may not always meet with wide scale acceptance by everyone else. For example, when writing some JavaScript, is the creator writing a Script or creating programming code that performs an action? Are they a ‘scripter’ or a ‘coder’? When marking up XML content, is the person that does that job called a ‘mark-upperer’ or a ‘mark-upper’?
Looking back over some recent projects, the discussions around well thought out vocabularies along with the building of Taxonomies to form the basis for Metadata, can dramatically enhance the value of most Publishers content. Particularly when offering up that content to end users for searching, resulting in an increased Findability factor for specifically targeted content.
It is all about the vocabulary, but clearly there has to be a common agreement on the definitions so as to have the same meaning to everyone. So as I wrote this, does that make me a writer, an author or a creator, or perhaps all three? Some may say, none of them!
#eprdctn – Vocabulary definitions, some suggestions
- Scripter – Someone who creates a JavaScript
- Programmer – Someone who writes computer programme code
- XML Element – Everything from (including) the element’s start tag to (including) the element’s end tag. More examples here
- XML Attribute – An XML attribute provides additional information about an XML element. Another source of XML examples.
All comments welcome.