Why didn't we use Realized and Embodied In from FRBR

[kcoyle]

I received a comment asking why we didn't use the FRBR terms for the OpenWEMI properties. I actually don't remember the details, but do think this is something we should document. The comparison of the properties is:

FRBR elements/classes	FRBR	OpenWEMI
Work/Expression	realized through	expressedBy
Expression/Manifestation	embodied in	manifestedBy
Manifestation/Item	exemplified by	instantiatedBy

My recollection is that we found "realized" and "embodied" to be too concrete. Here are some definitions from the dictionary:

Expression an act... of representing in a medium
realize to bring into concrete existence
embody to make concrete and perceptible

It's obviously hard to pin down a single word that everyone can agree on. I do think that our definitions are clear:

• Endeavor: "A creation"
• Work: "An abstract notion of an Endeavor."
• Expression: "A perceivable form of an Endeavor."
• Manifestation: "A realization of an Endeavor in physical, digital, or experiential form."
• Item: "An instantiation of an Endeavor."

If I had to define the relationships in prose (instead of as properties) I could say:

"This expression makes the creation perceivable by some (biological) sense"

"This manifestation is the concrete form of the creation in question."

"This item is a single instance of the outcome of the acts of creation."

This gets philosophical quickly - but I am interested to hear comments, especially those about how we could explain this better in the documentation.