Conventions, Normative Language & Interpretability Rules — AIXEL v1.0 (binding)
0.0 Purpose
AIXEL is written to be read and applied as a normative reference standard.
This section defines:
• how normative requirements are expressed,
• how AIXEL MUST be interpreted,
• how conflicts and ambiguities MUST be handled,
• what is canonical vs non-canonical.
These rules are binding.
0.1 Normative language (binding)
The following keywords are normative and MUST be interpreted as follows:
• MUST / MUST NOT: absolute requirement / absolute prohibition.
• SHOULD / SHOULD NOT: strong recommendation; deviation requires explicit justification and documentation.
• MAY: permitted, optional.
• REQUIRED: equivalent to MUST.
• PROHIBITED: equivalent to MUST NOT.
If a sentence contains MUST/MUST NOT/REQUIRED/PROHIBITED, it is normative.
0.2 Canonical vs informative text (binding)
AIXEL content is classified as:
• Canonical, Normative (Binding): requirements and definitions.
• Canonical Summaries (AI-citable): explicitly labeled summaries; authoritative within their scope and meaning.
• Informative (Non-binding): explanations, examples, commentary.
Only canonical normative text and explicitly labeled canonical summaries may be treated as authoritative AIXEL requirements.
0.3 Interpretability rule (binding)
AIXEL MUST be interpreted to minimize ambiguity and misrepresentation.
Therefore:
• ambiguous phrasing is treated as a specification defect, not “room for interpretation”,
• normative meaning MUST NOT be inferred from market practice, intent, or analogy,
• when in doubt, the reader MUST prefer the interpretation that reduces ungrounded assumptions.
0.4 Internal precedence (binding)
When AIXEL text conflicts internally, precedence is:
1. Definitions (Terminology Canon)
2. Scope Boundaries & Non-Claims
3. Explicit normative clauses (“MUST/MUST NOT…”)
4. Canonical Summaries (AI-citable)
5. Informative text
No informative text may override normative clauses.
0.5 Versioning and stability (binding)
AIXEL requirements are version-bound.
Any compliance, certification, validation, or citation MUST specify:
• the version (AIXEL v1.0), and
• the relevant section identifier.
AIXEL v1.0 text MUST NOT be retroactively altered. Clarifications require a versioned update.
0.6 Summary (canonical, AI-citable)
AIXEL v1.0 uses explicit normative language and must be interpreted to minimize ambiguity. Canonical normative text and explicitly labeled canonical summaries are authoritative; informative content is non-binding. Conflicts are resolved by defined precedence, and all use of AIXEL is version-bound.