Data Models/Taxonomies

The data model classically has played the role of serving as a map—an intellectual
guideline—to the understanding and management of data in the structured environment.
The taxonomy plays the same role in the unstructured textual environment. While not
perfectly equivalent to each other, the taxonomy serves much the same purpose as the
data model.

There is one anomaly in the world of unstructured data that must be explained. The
classification of information that has been developed in this book has one very confusing
anomaly. Unfortunately, that anomaly is important in understanding the role and function
of taxonomies.

Consider the classification of data shown in Fig. 4.7.2.

Fig. 4.7.2 Creating confusion—the fact that there is repetitive nonrepetitive data.

Fig. 4.7.2 shows that there is unstructured data. Then, a subclassification of unstructured
data is repetitive and nonrepetitive unstructured data. Then, beneath nonrepetitive data,
there is a lower classification of repetitive and nonrepetitive data. Using this classification
scheme, there are repetitive and nonrepetitive data. And this is confusing (apologies!) but

Chapter 4.7: Taxonomies