from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saying
Aphorism. A concise definition, notably memorable. Adage. An aphorism that has gained credibility by virtue of long use. Is it possible that we are looking for 'adage' here? - michael dykman On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 2:07 PM, Roger Hui <[email protected]> wrote: > In natural languages, a phrase book would be quite > a different thing from a book of aphorisms. > A phrase book would contain practically useful items > like "Excuse me, where is the nearest toilet", > whereas an aphorism book would have things like > "I think, therefore I am." > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dan Bron <[email protected]> > Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:38 > Subject: Re: [Jchat] Newbie Musings 2: How I got to J > To: 'Chat forum' <[email protected]> > >> Björn wrote: >> > Just out of curiosity I would like to know if what APL >> called idioms >> > is also called idioms in J or if people prefer to call >> it phrases in J >> >> I don't like "phrases" because it is too generic; any J sentence >> or clause is a "phrase". Others deprecate "idioms" because it >> implies the meaning is unpredictable given the component words >> (e.g. "kick the bucket"), whereas the meaning of a J idiom is >> completely predictable from (in fact, is determined by) its >> components words. >> >> What we need is a word that means "common, useful, memorable >> phrase" or "a phrase that is so common it is essentially a word, >> and is >> easily recognized and recalled"*. How about: >> >> Aphorism: A concise definition, notably memorable. >> >> Of course, we have other choices: >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saying . I love WP! >> >> -Dan >> >> * This "the phrase as a word" is the motivation for the use of >> "idiom", >> because as a word is composed of letters, and >> its meaning is >> unrelated to those letters, so a idiom is >> composed of words, and >> its meaning is unrelated to those words; I >> think there is a technical >> linguisitic term for these "component words", >> and I thought it was >> "lexemes", but WP disagrees. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > -- - michael dykman - [email protected] May the Source be with you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
