Core terminology: range
- A range is a contiguous sequence of atoms recognized as such
- Ranges may be anonymous, but most will have names
- Ranges may overlap
- ... but they may not stop and restart
- (Constructs of non-contiguous ranges may be supported in the application)
- Ranges may be empty (in which case they have no content, therefore no extent)
Some examples (LMNL syntax):
[line}[s}[phr}What are we first?{s]{phr] [s}[phr}First, animals;{phr]
[phr}and next{line]
[line}Intelligences at a leap;{phr] [phr}on whom{line]
[line}Pale lies the distant shadow of the tomb,{line]{phr]
[line}[phr}And all that draweth on the tomb for text.{line]{phr]{s]
Here, phr ranges overlap line ranges.
Note that the s range encloses all the line ranges (despite the placement of tags). Range markers (tags) are “slippery”; since they indicate only the start of a range
(over atoms), they are not ordered in relation to the tags of coterminous ranges.