Re: terminology

From: Pickie <keith.johnson_at_datacom.co.nz>
Date: 18 Jun 2006 22:27:53 -0700
Message-ID: <1150694873.423093.122670@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com>

paul c wrote:
> Pickie wrote:
> > Cimode wrote:
> >> Marshall wrote:
> >>> [First of all, I assume "r.t." means "relational theory" and "fopl"
> >>> is "first order predicate logic." Correct me if I guessed wrong.]
> >>>
> >>> Certainly there are different contexts in which the term "variable"
> >>> is used, and across those different contexts there may be
> >>> incompatible meanings. I was speaking of the programming
> >>> languages theory ("PLT") context. So I am speaking of regular
> >>> data variables, rather than logic variables--they are quite
> >>> different.
> >> An integer is an integer whether you speak of Math, of PL or
> >> whatever...
> >> An arythmetic operation is an arithmetic operation regardless of field
> >> of application
> >> RM is pure math applied and what you state is that the application
> >> redefines the fundamental concepts...
> >>
> >>> Thanks for pointing out that distinction.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Marshall
> >
> > Apparently not - in dictionaries, there are two definitions of
> > integer. One is "a positive or negative whole number or zero" while
> > the other is "whole entity". Subtle difference, I know, but just call
> > me picky.
> >
> > Re a couple of other posts.
> >
> > Since glass is mostly an oxide of silicon and the water is dihydrogen
> > monoxide - the glass of water may well be mostly oxygen. Or Do I Mean
> > Oxygen?
> >
> > Sillicium could be a mispronounciation of psyllium; which is the stuff
> > you take, dissolved in a glass of water, to prevent constipation.
> > What can someone take for thread diarrhoea?
> >

>
>

> I attempted earlier to encourage more people taking up the plonk file
> approach (for some reason it seemed my recipe didn't work at first but I
> later noticed that the newsreader I use has a more automatic way to
> re-route the usenet diarrhea - it seems it's now working as I know now
> even less than before what people are talking about!).

>

> As for the other comments, all I think worth saying is that if
> 'literalists' ran the world, we'd still be drinking water by dipping our
> tongues in the nearest marsh. DB/IT progress is not to be found by
> mirroring the real world. To keep this short and to keep from being
> plonked by those here who can help me with future questions, I won't say
> what I think of the dictionary school of IT except that it's something
> like appealing to irrelevant authority.
>
> p

Sorry Paul, but the thread _is_ "Terminology" - a pedant's dream.

Maybe this helps -) -) -) -) -) -) -) -------) SEE - the tongue is firmly in the cheek - I can't even stalk traight! Received on Mon Jun 19 2006 - 00:27:53 CDT