Re: unnatural languages

In article <1173929457.442038.57900@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Peter T. Daniels <grammatim@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Mar 14, 5:43 pm, hru...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Herman Rubin) wrote:
In article <1173824361.678668.201...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Peter T. Daniels <gramma...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Mar 13, 3:48 pm, hru...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Herman Rubin) wrote:
BTW, algebraic notation can be applied to ordinary
language. Variables are linguistic entities, which
can substitute for anything, and have rigid rules.
Euclid could, and did, use variables for geometric
objects, but variables for anything else had not yet
been invented.
Applications of logical systems to human language were tried --
Generative Semantics, Montague grammar -- and were soon abandoned.

One can try too hard to achieve what cannot yet be done.

I was not suggesting replacing language, but adding the
capabilities of "algebraic notation" to language. This
is partly done now, but clumsily and in too limited a
manner. We use such terms as gizmo, doohickey,
whatamajig; these are used as variables. We also say,
"From place A to place B." this is linguistic use of
variables, and we could replace "A" by "Q" and "B" by
"RsT". If we had a few dozen places to keep track
of, or people, we could use variables for notation.
We can even use variables for verbs or adjectives.
THIS is the suggestion, and it can be done early.

It is of course part of every human language. It needs no "adding"
from "algebraic notation."

It is? Why could not the Greeks use it?

The first use of variables for numerical quantities seems
to be around 300 CE. For several variables, it was the late
16th century. For more than numbers and geometric objects,
18th century. The use of strings, rather than single
letters, or single letters with subscripts or superscripts,
20th century. As other than pronouns, likewise.

Why are they not used in elementary school arithmetic?
When introduced in algebra or "prealgebra", they are made
to seem mysterious, and to frown on the use of more than
the smallest number possible. No, they are not used enough,
and not early enough.

You might also find Jakobson's notion of "shifters" worth looking at.



--
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
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: unnatural languages
    ... Variables are linguistic entities, which ... Euclid could, and did, use variables for geometric ... I was not suggesting replacing language, ... of, or people, we could use variables for notation. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: unnatural languages
    ... Variables are linguistic entities, which ... I was not suggesting replacing language, ... capabilities of "algebraic notation" to language. ... of, or people, we could use variables for notation. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: unnatural languages
    ... Variables are linguistic entities, which ... I was not suggesting replacing language, ... of, or people, we could use variables for notation. ... Because Euclid and Archimedes weren't as smart as you? ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: A different definition of MINUS, Part 3
    ... as providing a solution to a language implementation problem. ... but closed for the desired expressions of that language. ... I would assume that a computing model is to be ... algebra and a relational computing model is comparable to the ...
    (comp.databases.theory)
  • Re: A different definition of MINUS, Part 3
    ... There you go again attributing references to language implementation to me ... the algebra is not an essential ... While the name of the relvar no doubt has other significance in ...
    (comp.databases.theory)