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Re: way-OT: regularity of german v. english [was: Re: OT - Programming Languages w/o English Syntax]



On Fri, Oct 24, 2003 at 11:50:40PM +0200, David Jardine wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 24, 2003 at 02:21:45PM -0700, Tom wrote:
> > I would say isRed(fork) contains an implied [it] and [a]:
> > 
> > [it] | is |      fork
> > -----|----|----------
> >      |    | \   \
> >              \a  \red
> > 
> > fork is a "predicate noun", red is an adjective
> 
> No, I want to hand them a fork and ask them if the fork (subject) 
> is red.  I know it's a fork.

You don't know its a fork, anymore than an index variable is an "i." :-)
fork is its name, no forkness there.

Note "Is the fork red?" and "The fork is red" diagram identically.  "If" 
is a conjunctive:

.
 .
  .if
   .
    .
     fork  | is \ red
     ------|-----\----
     \     |    
      \the

You are correct, for your intention OO syntax is best.



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