I was simply trying to point out that you chose to apply the meaning of
"between" not from the J terminology of "between" but from some other
context where it is not clear of order. J documentation makes it very clear
for J context. I was simply pointing out that the statement that a variable
can not vary makes little sense in any terminology. Haskell (sorry about the
misspelling) documentation needs to be clear and concise as well. It's not a
variable. Use another word. A variable in mathematics is quite different
than that in computer programming languages. Talk about a confusing
statement: "x=x+1"! People who haven't programmed a computer think that is
the stupidest thing they ever saw. But it is perfectly valid for computer
programming and is used a lot. We programmers have no trouble with it.

But I can work with the rather interesting definition of "variable". After
all, what I want to get is the concept, not pick on the best way that is
should be written. It just caught my eye as odd when I read the intro for
Haskell.


On Wed, Apr 13, 2011 at 5:21 PM, Boyko Bantchev <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 13 April 2011 16:17, Don Guinn <[email protected]> wrote:
> > You jumped on the ambiguity of "between". I jumped on "variable".
>
> Don,
>
> I don't see your objection against the word `variable' analogous to
> mine.  You may not like how the word is used, and with some reason,
> though that use is very conventional not only in Haskell, but in
> functional languages in general, as well as in mathematics.
> I, on the other hand, have no objections to the use of the words
> `noun', `verb', `adverb', etc. in J, although that use is rather far
> from conventional.  There is not any particular word that bothers me,
> but I happen to find a certain piece of text on J of questionable
> quality.
>
> (Btw, the name is Haskell, not Hascell -- it is the proper name of a
> late logician who developed the combinatory calculus.  The latter has
> had an impact on the design not only of Haskell the language but on J
> as well.)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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