Bityi (translating code editor): Difference between revisions
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
has been moved to the [[Talk:Source-code editor with transparent native-language display|talk page]]. |
has been moved to the [[Talk:Source-code editor with transparent native-language display|talk page]]. |
||
== |
==Name== |
||
The word "bityi" is drawn from John Wilkins's 1664 artificial language. It is the word for language number 42 (bi- discourse; t-5th of 9 subgenuses ; yi- 8th of 9 subspecies): in Douglas Adams's world of the babel fish, this would be the Final Answer Language. Obviously, such a linguistically triumphalistic name is meant sarcastically: Wilkins's language is best known as the butt of one of Borges's intricate jokes, and the "final answer" of 42 is no good to anyone without a question. I hope that this project will be successful, but it can only avoid the pitfalls of previous Grand Linguistic Plans if it focuses on being as useful and unobtrusive as possible and NOT on being a total solution for everything. |
|||
The name for this concept should not require translation, thus it should not be in a natural language. The word "bityi" is drawn whimsically from John Wilkins' 1664 artificial language - best known as the butt of Borges' sophisticated joke "El Idioma Analítico de John Wilkins". In a nod to Douglas Adams and his babel fish, it refers to discourse number 42 in Wilkins' tables (counting from 0 in base 9: bi- discourse; t-5th of 9 subgenuses ; yi- 8th of 9 subspecies). This is intended to indicate that, while there will never and should never be a final answer to the problems presented by language differences (what good is 42?), nonetheless the search is worthwhile. |
|||
Revision as of 16:40, 20 August 2007
Source-code editor with transparent native-language display
Almost all programming is done in programming "languages" based on English. These are really codes, much less than languages, with a limited vocabulary. Still, it's a significant barrier for other-language programmers, especially young ones. A modern computer, even a cheap one, would have no trouble doing transparent, real-time translation into the user's natural language. For instance, on disk you'd have python "if ... else...", but on screen, you'd see (and write) "si... sino..." (spanish).
Current design thoughts...
are at Source-code editor with transparent native-language display/design.
Older discussion
has been moved to the talk page.
Name
The word "bityi" is drawn from John Wilkins's 1664 artificial language. It is the word for language number 42 (bi- discourse; t-5th of 9 subgenuses ; yi- 8th of 9 subspecies): in Douglas Adams's world of the babel fish, this would be the Final Answer Language. Obviously, such a linguistically triumphalistic name is meant sarcastically: Wilkins's language is best known as the butt of one of Borges's intricate jokes, and the "final answer" of 42 is no good to anyone without a question. I hope that this project will be successful, but it can only avoid the pitfalls of previous Grand Linguistic Plans if it focuses on being as useful and unobtrusive as possible and NOT on being a total solution for everything.