Re: Unicode Bloopers

From: N. Ganesan (naa.ganesan@gmail.com)
Date: Sat Apr 23 2005 - 06:06:44 CST

  • Next message: Michael Everson: "Interrobang"

    >Best wishes,
    >Otto Stolz, programmig-languages archeologist ;-)

    [...]

    >Bibliography:
    >J. W. Backus & al., Peter Naur (ed.): "Revised report on the
    >algorithmic language ALGOL 60", Numerische Mathematik 4 (1963),
    >p 420‒453, ISSN 0029-599X; also in Comm. ACM, and in J British
    >Computer Soc.; Reprint (1965) Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg,
    >New York

    For language-archaeologists, this OT biblio will be of some interest.

    http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Panini.html
    " Panini should be thought of as the forerunner of the modern formal
    language theory used to specify computer languages. The Backus
    Normal Form was discovered independently by John Backus in 1959,
    but Panini's notation is equivalent in its power to that of Backus
    and has many similar properties. It is remarkable to think that
    concepts which are fundamental to today's theoretical computer
    science should have their origin with an Indian genius around 2500
    years ago. "

    Bibliography:
    Knuth, Donald (1964), Backus normal form vs. Backus Naur form.
    Comm. ACM 7, 12, 735-736
    Ingerman, P.Z. (1966). A Syntax-Oriented Translator, Academic Press,
    New York.
    ----1967 "Panini-Backus Form Suggested," Comm. ACM 10, 3, p. 137

    http://www.unicode.org/mail-arch/unicode-ml/y2003-m09/0029.html
    [Begin Quote]
    > Just because < and > are in ASCII, the have been
    used as approximations.

    That was the origin of this practice.

    However the practice is found now in professional
    technical publishing as a matter of choice, for example in
    modern linguistics and in Backus-Naur notation where the
    more normal angle brackets are certainly
    available for use.
    [End Quote]

    In connection with the abve quote, see more on Panini-Backus notation,
    http://www.infinityfoundation.com/ECITraoframe.html

    N. Ganesan



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