Newsgroups: comp.lang.apl
Path: watmath!watserv1!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!geac!itcyyz!yrloc!rbe
From: rbe@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM (Robert Bernecky)
Subject: Re: Function evaluation in J
Message-ID: <1992May6.144854.10070@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM>
Reply-To: rbe@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM (Robert Bernecky)
Organization: Snake Island Research Inc, Toronto
References: <1992May3.023638.20940@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM> <92125.112544HAC041@DJUKFA11.BITNET>
Date: Wed, 6 May 92 14:48:54 GMT

In article <92125.112544HAC041@DJUKFA11.BITNET> HAC041@DJUKFA11.BITNET (Konrad Hinsen) writes:
>In article <1992May3.023638.20940@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM>,
>hui@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM (Roger Hui) says:
>>
>It may have only 18 pages, but an information density exceeding
>everything I have seen before. You can't seriously expect anyone
>to read the entire 18 pages whenever looking up a definition.
>The normal way I use a dictionary (i.e. dictionaries for human
>languages) is to read the introduction once and try to remember the
>essential parts; later I just look at the definition of interest and
>at points referred to in that definition. The same strategy should

It is clear to me that you two/three have differing ideas as to the
purpose of a Dictionary. I see no gain from continuing this threadm
as neither side wishes to solve the problem by attempting to comprehend
the other's viewpoint.

The Dictionary differs from most computer references works in that it
reflects the structure of natural language dictionaries: There is no
syntactic information in the entries, and you are presumed to already 
know the language, using the dictionary as a covabulary reference only. 

I think this is the essence of the problem.

I agree that it is VERY hard to learn J from the Dictionary, and 
strongly feel that several introductory texts, written by different
authors, will do much to promote J among those who are unable or 
unwilling to read every word of the Dictionary with extreme caution.

Bob




Robert Bernecky    rbe@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.com
Snake Island Research Inc  (416) 368-6944   FAX: (416) 360-4694 
18 Fifth Street, Ward's Island
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2B9 
Canada
