Dealing with Markup Semantics

The correct interpretation of markup semantics is necessary for the semantic interpretation of linguistic expressions that use markup in their structuring and for enabling sophisticated operation on markup documents, such as semantic validation, multi-format document conversion and searching on heterogeneous digital libraries. The semantics of XML-based markup languages is usually provided informally, for example through textual descriptions in the specification of the language. While the syntax of XML-based languages is entirely machine-readable, its semantics is obscure for machines. Semantic Web technologies can be useful for filling the gap between the well-defined syntax of a language and the informal specification of its semantics. In this paper we show how to integrate LMM, an OWL vocabulary that represents some core semiotic notions, with EARMARK, a model for the specification of semantic and structural characteristics of markup languages, in order to provide a better understanding of the semantics of markup.