18. A computer-implemented method of retrieving data from a relational database having a processing component and a relational data store, comprising: receiving a semantic query that depends, for its execution, on application of at least one semantic rule; expressing the semantic query within the relational database, using the processing component within the relational database, wherein expressing the semantic query further comprises generating, within the relational database, a table valued function that defines a semantic rule to be called in executing the semantic query; executing the semantic query against the relational data store, using the processing component within the relational database, wherein executing the semantic query further comprises calling the table valued function; and returning database results, using the processing component, generated from execution of the semantic query.
18. A computer-implemented method of retrieving data from a relational database having a processing component and a relational data store, comprising: receiving a semantic query that depends, for its execution, on application of at least one semantic rule; expressing the semantic query within the relational database, using the processing component within the relational database, wherein expressing the semantic query further comprises generating, within the relational database, a table valued function that defines a semantic rule to be called in executing the semantic query; executing the semantic query against the relational data store, using the processing component within the relational database, wherein executing the semantic query further comprises calling the table valued function; and returning database results, using the processing component, generated from execution of the semantic query. 19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein the semantic query comprises a bifurcating recursive semantic query requiring application of a bifurcating recursive semantic rule and wherein expressing comprises: generating a table valued function that defines the bifurcating recursive semantic rule.