Re: Software definition, was: A possible GFDL compromise
On 15 Sep 2003, Mathieu Roy wrote:
> Keith Stephen Dunwoody <kstephen@interchange.ubc.ca> a tapoté :
>
> > On 15 Sep 2003, Mathieu Roy wrote:
> >
> > > MJ Ray <markj@cloaked.freeserve.co.uk> a tapoté :
> > >
> > > > On 2003-09-15 07:40:04 +0100 Mathieu Roy <yeupou@gnu.org> wrote:
> > > > > - But it may also means that the only content that can be on a
> > > > > Debian CD must be software under the definition that I
> > > > > copied from two dictionnaries in the mail I just sent. [...]
> > > >
> > > > For one, I cannot understand where you get this requirement.
> > > >
> > > > Curiously, dicofr.com claims that "logiciel" was defined in 1967 by
> > > > Philippe Renard as a direct replacement for the English meaning, as
> > > > the intangible part of the computer, but then goes on to say it is now
> > > > a synonym for program. My nearby copy of Larousse and
> > > > francophonie.hachette-livre.fr only have the program meaning. Maybe
> > > > French has become corrupted, similar to some English dictionaries?
> > > > Someone with more resources
> > >
> > >
> > > I do not need dicofr to define the word Logiciel.
> > >
> > > But anyway, the following is the definition of the Academie Française:
> > >
> > >
> > > 1)*LOGICIEL n. m. XXe siècle. Dérivé de logique.
> > >
> > > INFORM. Ensemble structuré de programmes remplissant une
> > > fonction déterminée, permettant l'accomplissement d'une tâche
> > > donnée. Logiciel de traitement de texte, de dessin. Logiciel
> > > éducatif, pédagogique. Logiciel de simulation, de jeu. Le
> > > logiciel d'exploitation d'un ordinateur. Il s'est substitué à
> > > l'anglais Software, qui n'a plus à être employé.
> > >
> > >
> > > It's pretty clear. You may claim that the Academie Française and all
> > > the French people use a corrupted definition of Logiciel (it's not
> > > that the etymology would says). But the French language is made by the
> > > French and by the Academie Française.
> > >
> >
> > I think you missed the point. I believe the point was that logiciel was
> > originally intended as a replacement for "software", but now seems to be
> > more of a replacement for "program".
>
> I think you missed the point.
> I think that it has been a replacement for program from the start. The
> etymology of the word says so.
Il s'est substitue a l'anglais Software, qui n'a plus a etre employe.
(Sorry for the lack of accents). Doesn't this translate to (roughly,
it's
been a while since I studied french): "It replaces the English
"Software", which is not to be used any more."?
But this is off topic.
-- Keith
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