7 HTML

The syntax of individual documents in WWW hypertext is specified in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) . HTML is a specific application of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) .

These introductions should be consulted for definitions of HTML syntax and, possibly, hints on HTML use.

There is no general convention for specifying larger hypertext structures in the WWW, however. This is a complicated matter, and for completeness would need to take browser and server properties into account as well as the properties of the text. HTML itself is located, within the model presented above, at the intermetdiate level of layout.

A hypertext in the WWW environment may be a single page-file containing a document whose layout syntax is specified in HTML (or is plain text), with links between parts of the text on the page, or it may be a collection of pages linked as a tree or a graph, with links pointing to other page-files or to a graphics file or to a Java application.

Tasks:

1. Select a basic set of HTML tags which you consider will be useful for making a text.
2. How would you characterise the various HTML constructs from a linguistic point of view?
3. Do you agree with the point of view sometimes met in the HTML introductory literature that with HTML you can distinguish between the `logical structure' and the `layout' of a document? Is there a clear distinction?
4. How is the layout of documents affected by the HTML description, and how far is it affected by the browser (and your computer)?
5. What is the minimal HTML document?
6. Describe your favourite recipe and describe your description in HTML. Maybe start with something like `Soup. Take the soup out of the fridge and warm it in the microwave.', and then make it into a more detailed conventional recipe.
7. Make a description of the soup from the point of view of an experienced soup taster (but take pity on his taste buds).
8. Design a soup advertisement and describe the advertisement in HTML.
9. Is it possible to define `locutionary acts' and `illocutionary acts' (in the sense of either Austin or Searle) in HTML?