merits of Lisp vs Python

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 15:05:04 +0100, Stefan Nobis wrote:

> Steven D'Aprano <steve at REMOVE.THIS.cybersource.com.au> writes:
> 
>> Look at us: we're all communicating in a common language, English,
>> and we all agree on syntax and grammar. Now, I could be a lot more
>> expressive, and language could be a lot more powerful, if I could
>> define my own language where "You are a poopy-head" was in fact a
>> detailed and devastatingly accurate and complete explanation for why
>> Python was a better language than Lisp.
> 
>> So it is good that English restricts the expressiveness and power of
>> the syntax and grammar. While we're talking English, we can both
>> understand each other, and in fact people who redefine words and
>> ignore the common meaning of them are often covering weaknesses in
>> their arguments.
> 
> Uh, you don't talk often to non-programmers, do you?

Oh, if you only knew!


> Talk a bit to
> non-programmers about your programming habits, why you prefer which
> programming language and so on. Everything in english. How much do
> they understand?

That depends on how much jargon I use. Jargon, I should point out, is not
necessarily a pejorative term. It can just mean vocabulary used
only in a specialist field, and as such, jargon is very, very important.


> Ever talked to skateboarders? Other people of different scenes? They
> are creating new, specialized languages every day. 

Yes, that's right. And if they insist on using their specialist language
where "that's bad" means "that is best quality", and I insist on using
my language where "that's bad" means "that is worst quality", how much
successful communication are we going to have? 

> Here in Germany a
> study was published a little time ago, how few people understand
> commercials and their slogans.

Which just proves my point. If people don't share the same language
constructs, the same words, the same grammar, etc, they can't understand
each other.

> Do you know how many jokes work? Yes, by misunderstandings. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humour



-- 
Steven.