Re: Spoken programming language

> I still think the following kind of distinction needs to be made:
> Assert(apple.color == red); // "I assert/claim/state that the apple is red."
> Query(apple.color == red); // "Is the apple red?"
> Imperative(apple.color = red); // "Make the apple red!"
> --gary
I think a major obstacle to using computer language syntax for natural languages
is the function of each sort of communication. Computer language is used almost
exclusively to give commands to a subordinate system (i.e., the computer). If
we're asking if an apple is red, it's because we want to know so that we can
give an order concerning the apple (e.g., if (apple.color = red) pick(apple) ->
"Is the apple red? If so, pick it!"), not because we're just curious or making
idle conversation. So regardless, if we wanted to make computer language robust
enough to tell stories, I agree, we'd need to build quite a bit of new
structures.

-- Paul

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