> But Ken talks of "analogies", and seems to use the word "noun"
> to mean a value or quantity: the result of an expression, not the
> variable -- or named memory location -- it's stored in. What, in J,
> corresponds to an APL "variable"?
"Noun" in J does not mean value. It corresponds
directly and exactly to "array" in APL. A value can
be a verb (function), for example, "the value of the
sentence +/ is a verb that does summation".
Regarding your last question, It depends on how
"variable" is used in APL. If you say sum←+/ 2 3 4,
I think you'd call "sum" a variable. But if you say
sum←+/, is "sum" still a variable? If not, what is
the difference, and what do you call a name in APL
whose referent is a function? If yes, doesn't it
sound jarring to your ears? (It does to mine.)
And, a question Ken used to ask: if sum←1 2 3,
what is variable about "sum"?
Some APL texts also calls .5 and 1 2 3 and 'abc'
"variables, that is, used "variable" and "array"
as synonyms. Ken's question is even more pertinent
in those cases: If ever .5 has a different value
("varied"), I expect to get system errors shortly
thereafter.
There is a table in the dictionary section II. Grammar:
http://www.jsoftware.com/help/dictionary/dict2.htm
PARTS of SPEECH
50 fahrenheit Nouns/Pronouns
+ - * % bump Verbs/Proverbs
/ \ Adverbs
& Conjunction
( ) Punctuation
=: Copula
----- Original Message -----
From: Ian Clark <[email protected]>
Date: Sunday, October 24, 2010 12:21
Subject: [Jgeneral] "J In A Day" --crits please
To: General forum <[email protected]>
> First draft of an article for eventual submission to VECTOR entitled
> "J In A Day".
>
> http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/JinaDay
>
> It is "work-in-progress". It represents an "alpha" offering, not a
> "release" or "publication". It's aimed squarely at the APLer who
> doesn't know any J.
>
> There won't be many such on this list. But right now I'm keen to get
> the J right.
>
> The prevalent message to APLers coming to J is: un-learn everything
> you know about APL (it's not helpful) and learn J from first
> principles. I think this erects an unnecessary barrier to the
> dwindling(?) band of APLers ignorant of J.
>
> Of course the barriers may be there anyway. I recall my first exposure
> to J aroused antipathy in me. I can't quite remember why. A Kuhnian
> paradigm-shift may be inescapable--or at least the need for one. The
> article deliberately avoids being starry-eyed so as not to raise the
> APLer's hackles. But this is not meant as provocation to the J-er.
>
> There's a fairly defiant "admonition" (as MoinMoin calls it) to J
> experts -- but don't be put off. I would really appreciate your
> comments. So get your anoraks on... ;)
>
> Of course, if an APL-er knowing absolutely no J were to work through
> it, and confirm (or deny) it was of use to them... that would
> get me
> on like 7-league boots.
>
> BTW I use the J terms "proverb" and "pronoun" in it. I need to
> know if
> I'm using them correctly. See my separate posting.
>
> Thanks, Brian, for the Iverson ref. From the horse's mouth, so to
> speak. But Ken talks of "analogies", and seems to use the word "noun"
> to mean a value or quantity: the result of an expression, not the
> variable -- or named memory location -- it's stored in. What, in J,
> corresponds to an APL "variable"?
>
> Ian
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