Re: Universal grammar

In article <87y7q6tqpk.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
LEE Sau Dan <danlee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Herman" =3D=3D Herman Rubin <hrubin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>> For people who speak a SOV language, Postscript and Forth may
>> be more reasonable choices.

Herman> No, for understandability, infix is best.=20=20

To whom?

To people. Possibly we should try the alternatives
to some who have grown up with SOV, but one would have
to do it carefully.


Herman> The commutative law,=20
Herman> (x+y)=3D(y+x) becomes xy+yx+=3D,

And why is the latter less comprehensible? I find it better because
it avoids the use of "(" and ")".

I think we need something better than multiple uses
of parentheses, but even when there is no ambiguity,
putting them in helps understanding, just as putting
in commas and semicolons helps in reading.

Herman> and the associative law, (x+(y+z))=3D((x+y)+z) becomes
Herman> xyz++xy+z+=3D.

Again, why is the latter harder to understand those the former, which
has ridiculously many "("s and ")"s?

See the above.

Herman> No computer operates by "structured programming". They
Herman> all operate by the liberal use of "goto"s.

Yeah. And that's why people shouldn't spend time programming in such
primitives. It's unmanagably complicated. It's like having to cook a
meal by starting with growing your own pepper, mining your own salt,
and growing your own wheat (and then grinding them yourself). What's
the point of doing that?

It is not like that. The present computer languages are
like an automated car, which could take you to your
destination over a route which may or may not be good,
but will not let you back it into the driveway so the
garage can be cleaned.
--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558
.

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