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statements.mdwn
Here we’ll define what statements are, and how they can be identified to allow for complex expressions (“reification”).
The atomic unit of information expression in the expression model is a statement. For example, “John is a person”. All the information in a database is expressed using statements. Each statement is like a simple sentence, and is always composed of three parts:
- object
- predicate
- subject
Therefore, there are no “x exists” statements. As mentioned in previous sections, “x is-a Y” is a good way to introduce x to the database.
This model of stating things seems quite simple. Is it not too simple? How do we make statements more complicated than “John is a person”? Here’s an example:
“John reported that Anne saw Paul.”
“Anne saw Paul” is an atomic statement. Let’s call it s. Once stated, we need to state that “John reported s”. This looks like an atomic statement too, but one thing is missing: We need to refer to s somehow. Solution: Make s a resource and give it a uid. The new statement structure is now this:
- uid
- object
- predicate
- subject
Using the uid of the statement we can say things about it. When it was created, who created it, when it expires, whether it is a fact or a question or an opinion, etc.