Re: "Self-Segregating Syntax"?

On 4/18/06, Eldin Raigmore <eldin_raigmore@...> wrote:
> It looks like there are the following three main ways to delimit the
> phrases or other word-groups (some systems use more than one at the same
> time);
>
> 1. Mark the beginning of every such group -- the group will then end just
> before the next beginning-of-a-group at the same or a higher level.
>
> 2. Mark the end of every such group -- the group will then begin just after
> the last previous end-of-a-group at the same or a higher level.
>
> 3. Encode the length of the group at one (or both) of its margins:  Either
> 3a At the beginning of every group; or,
> 3b At the end of every group;
> or both.
>
> Has anyone come up with any other ideas?  Or run into ideas someone else
> has come up with?
Well, I have been pondering a bracket-type scheme (see LISP), and a
SADOL-type scheme (3a, I believe).  My experience with algebra, the
Haskell $ operator and curried functions, knowledge of forks in J
(http://www.jsoftware.com/books/help/dictionary/intro05.htm), and the
meaning of [] in some dialects of LISP, leads me to believe that a
slightly ad-hoc system would be best, with short, irregular ways to
specify the common cases, and a more complete way that can specify
anything.

Reply