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A category lacking identity criteria, unsuitable for individuating or counting instances over time.
DESCRIPTION
Non-sortals are general concepts that do not carry identity criteria for their instances. They often represent roles, phases, or attributes, not stable types. OntoClean flags non-sortal misuse when such concepts are modeled as types with identity. In data glossaries, distinguishing non-sortals from sortals avoids confusion and miscounts. Proper identification supports governance and interoperable semantics across domains.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
Wikipedia
A non-sortal term does not provide identity criteria for its instances and thus does not support counting.
Defines non-sortal negatively by the absence of identity criteria and countability.
ACM Digital Library
Non-sortal concepts (such as role concepts) do not carry identity criteria; they depend on a sortal type that supplies identity.
Associates non-sortals with role concepts and dependence on sortals.
RELATED TERMS
OntoClean Identity Role Phase Class Hierarchy Class Conceptual Modeling Rigidity General Concept
COMPETING TERMS
Sortal
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Semantic & Knowledge Modeling Data Modeling Data Governance
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Modeler Data Architect Data Steward Enterprise Architect
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - Sortal
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Identity criteria, sortal vs non-sortal
- ACM Digital Library - OntoClean guidance on role/non-sortal modeling
TOP QUESTIONS
Why is Non-sortal classification useful?
It prevents modeling roles or attributes as identity-bearing types, reducing ambiguity and data duplication.
Category: Relevancy
How does Non-sortal relate to roles?
Roles like ‘Customer’ are non-sortal and depend on base sortals such as ‘Person’ for identity.
Category: Concepts
What is a common mistake with Non-sortal concepts?
Promoting non-sortal roles into core types, which breaks identity criteria and counting.
Category: Mistakes
What risk arises if Non-sortal is ignored?
Inconsistent instance tracking and unclear semantics cause reporting and lineage issues across systems.
Category: Risks
How does OntoClean detect Non-sortal misuse?
By testing meta-properties, it flags classes lacking rigidity and identity, typical of role concepts.
Category: Management
How can Non-sortal distinctions improve governance?
They enable precise definitions in glossaries and catalogs, aligning models and access policies.
Category: Best practices
Which roles should ensure Non-sortal clarity?
Data Modelers, Data Architects, and Data Stewards collaborating on semantic standards.
Category: Audience
Where to learn about Non-sortal concepts?
Start with OntoClean papers and SEP entries on identity and sortals.
Category: Getting Started
What is the opposite of Non-sortal?
Sortal, which provides identity and individuation criteria.
Category: Alternatives