[DSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING] [DSI:NAME=SEMANTIC_BINDING_TAXONOMY;ROLE=LEARNING;AUTHOR=SIMON_MACFARLANE;VERSION=1_0] [DSM:SYSTEM=SEMANTIC_BINDING;AUDIENCE=PUBLIC,PROFESSIONAL,AUTHORING_SYSTEMS]
Page 2 — Semantic Binding Taxonomy
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.PURPOSE.OVERVIEW.2-1] [SSI:TITLE=PURPOSE_OF_THE_SB_TAXONOMY;AUTHORITY=SECONDARY;REF=2-1] [SSM:SECTION=CONCEPT;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.1 – Purpose & Positioning
This document defines the Semantic Binding taxonomy — the canonical semantic coordinate system used to anchor meaning across all semantically bound content.
The taxonomy allows content to be authored, retrieved, filtered, and reasoned over consistently across domains, documents, and systems.
This document defines what the taxonomy is and what each level represents.
It does not define authoring syntax, enforcement rules, or ingestion mechanics.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.RATIONALE.PROBLEM_STATEMENT.2-2] [SSI:TITLE=WHY_A_CANONICAL_TAXONOMY_IS_REQUIRED;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-2] [SSM:SECTION=RATIONALE;INTENT=RATIONALE;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.2 – The Problem the Taxonomy Solves
Without a canonical taxonomy:
- Similar concepts are named inconsistently
- Retrieval depends on wording rather than meaning
- AI systems conflate related but distinct concepts
- Knowledge fragments over time
A fixed taxonomy ensures:
- Meaning is anchored structurally
- Content is comparable across documents
- Retrieval operates on declared intent, not statistical similarity
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.SEMANTIC_MODEL.STRUCTURE.2-3] [SSI:TITLE=THE_SIX_LEVEL_MODEL;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-3] [SSM:SECTION=MODEL;INTENT=MODEL;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.3 – The Six-Level Semantic Model
Semantic Binding uses a six-level taxonomy:
- DOMAIN
- OBJECT
- CATEGORY
- SUBCATEGORY
- TYPE
- UNIT
Each level answers a distinct semantic question and must not be collapsed, skipped, or repurposed.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.DOMAIN.DEFINITION.2-4] [SSI:TITLE=DOMAIN;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-4] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.4 – DOMAIN
A DOMAIN defines the conceptual universe the content belongs to.
It answers:
“What broad field of knowledge is this about?”
Examples:
- THEORY
- LAW
- FINANCE
- OPERATIONS
- WORKFLOW
Rules:
- DOMAINs are few, stable, and long-lived
- DOMAINs never encode audience or use-case
- DOMAINs change extremely rarely
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.OBJECT.DEFINITION.2-5] [SSI:TITLE=OBJECT;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-5] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.5 – OBJECT
An OBJECT defines the primary concept being discussed within a DOMAIN.
It answers:
“What is this content fundamentally about?”
Examples:
- SEMANTIC_BINDING
- LEASE
- PERSON
- WORK_ITEM
Rules:
- One document has exactly one primary OBJECT
- OBJECTs are nouns, never actions
- OBJECTs are reusable across documents
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.CATEGORY.DEFINITION.2-6] [SSI:TITLE=CATEGORY;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-6] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.6 – CATEGORY
A CATEGORY defines the primary subject matter or conceptual focus of the section within the OBJECT.
It answers:
“What concept, construct, or thing is this section about?”
CATEGORY identifies what the reader is learning about, independent of how the content is expressed.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.SUBCATEGORY.DEFINITION.2-7] [SSI:TITLE=SUBCATEGORY;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-7] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.7 – SUBCATEGORY
A SUBCATEGORY refines the CATEGORY by identifying the specific facet or dimension of that subject matter.
It answers:
“Which aspect of this subject is being discussed?”
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.TYPE.DEFINITION.2-8] [SSI:TITLE=TYPE;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-8] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.8 – TYPE
A TYPE defines the semantic role of the content.
It answers:
“What kind of semantic work is this doing?”
Examples:
- OVERVIEW
- DEFINITION
- EXPLANATION
- POSITION
- STATUS
TYPE is critical for reasoning and response composition.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.UNIT.DEFINITION.2-9] [SSI:TITLE=UNIT;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-9] [SSM:SECTION=DEFINITION;INTENT=DEFINITION;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.9 – UNIT
A UNIT identifies a specific, addressable semantic element.
It answers:
“Which exact idea or section is this?”
Examples:
- OVERVIEW
- STATEMENT
- SECTION_3
- CLAUSE_7_2
- ITEM_1
UNIT enables citation-grade retrieval.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.COMPOSITION.EXPLANATION.2-10] [SSI:TITLE=COMPOSITION_OF_MEANING;AUTHORITY=PRIMARY;REF=2-10] [SSM:SECTION=MODEL;INTENT=MODEL;ABSTRACTION=MEDIUM]
2.10 – How the Levels Work Together
Each level adds semantic constraint:
- DOMAIN bounds the universe
- OBJECT fixes the subject
- CATEGORY defines aspect
- SUBCATEGORY refines scope
- TYPE defines role
- UNIT provides precision
Together they form a semantic coordinate, not a folder or filename.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.SUMMARY.RECAP.2-11] [SSI:TITLE=SUMMARY;AUTHORITY=SECONDARY;REF=2-11] [SSM:SECTION=SUMMARY;INTENT=SUMMARY;ABSTRACTION=HIGH]
2.11 – Summary
The Semantic Binding taxonomy provides the canonical coordinate system that makes meaning stable, comparable, and machine-interpretable.
It ensures that content is not located by wording or structure, but by declared semantic position.
This document establishes that:
- Meaning must be anchored using a fixed, shared taxonomy
- Each level (DOMAIN → UNIT) constrains interpretation in a specific, non-overlapping way
- Semantic precision increases by composition, not by verbosity
- Retrieval, reasoning, and agent behaviour depend on these coordinates remaining stable and unambiguous
The taxonomy is not a classification convenience.
It is the structural backbone of Semantic Binding.
[SSB:THEORY.SEMANTIC_BINDING.TAXONOMY.STATUS.DOCUMENT_STATE.2-12] [SSI:TITLE=STATUS;AUTHORITY=SECONDARY;REF=2-12] [SSM:SECTION=STATUS;INTENT=DECLARATIVE_STATE;ABSTRACTION=LOW]
2.12 – Status
This taxonomy is active and authoritative for all Semantic Binding content.