who decides the size of a data type?

[christian.bau]

Re: who decides the size of a data type?

On Mar 16, 11:11 pm, CBFalconer <cbfalco...@yah oo.comwrote:

No, Willem.  The phrases "I have a doubt" and "my doubt" are quite
ordinary English usage.  They are more popular in India than in
most other English speaking areas.  I concede that many native
English speakers don't recognize that, but their ignorance is of no
concern.  

You are contradicting yourself here. If many native English speakers
don't recognise a phrase, then it is by definition not ordinary
English usage.

("I have a doubt" is of course an ordinary English sentence, but it
means something completely different from "I have a question").

But no matter what, if anyone has a question then they should write "I
have a question" and chances are much better that they will get an
answer instead of a lengthy thread about proper use of the English
language.

[jacob navia]

Re: who decides the size of a data type?

christian.bau wrote:

On Mar 16, 11:11 pm, CBFalconer <cbfalco...@yah oo.comwrote:

>No, Willem. The phrases "I have a doubt" and "my doubt" are quite
>ordinary English usage. They are more popular in India than in
>most other English speaking areas. I concede that many native
>English speakers don't recognize that, but their ignorance is of no
>concern.

>
You are contradicting yourself here. If many native English speakers
don't recognise a phrase, then it is by definition not ordinary
English usage.

[snip english grammar discussion]

So, speaking about debuggers and what happens when a program
crash is off topic for mr Bau. Obviously, discussing
english grammar is not.

This is an example of the double standards that the regulars
use:

If I discuss english grammar is ON TOPIC in c.l.c

If Jacob discusses debuggers and debugging that is OFF TOPIC


--
jacob navia
jacob at jacob point remcomp point fr
logiciels/informatique

http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~lcc-win32

[Richard]

Re: who decides the size of a data type?

jacob navia <jacob@nospam.c omwrites:

christian.bau wrote:

>On Mar 16, 11:11 pm, CBFalconer <cbfalco...@yah oo.comwrote:

>>No, Willem. The phrases "I have a doubt" and "my doubt" are quite
>>ordinary English usage. They are more popular in India than in
>>most other English speaking areas. I concede that many native
>>English speakers don't recognize that, but their ignorance is of no
>>concern.

>>
>You are contradicting yourself here. If many native English speakers
>don't recognise a phrase, then it is by definition not ordinary
>English usage.

>
[snip english grammar discussion]
>
So, speaking about debuggers and what happens when a program
crash is off topic for mr Bau. Obviously, discussing
english grammar is not.
>
This is an example of the double standards that the regulars
use:
>
If I discuss english grammar is ON TOPIC in c.l.c
>
If Jacob discusses debuggers and debugging that is OFF TOPIC

Mr Bau has clearly demonstrated which side of common sense he is on.

[CBFalconer]

English usage (was: who decides the size of a data type?)

"christian. bau" wrote:

CBFalconer <cbfalco...@yah oo.comwrote:
>

>No, Willem. The phrases "I have a doubt" and "my doubt" are
>quite ordinary English usage. They are more popular in India
>than in most other English speaking areas. I concede that many
>native English speakers don't recognize that, but their
>ignorance is of no concern.

>
You are contradicting yourself here. If many native English
speakers don't recognise a phrase, then it is by definition not
ordinary English usage.
>
("I have a doubt" is of course an ordinary English sentence,
but it means something completely different from "I have a
question").

True. It means the originator 'has a doubt' about something or
other. It may be clearable by asking a question, deepening an
explanation, etc. It doesn't mean "I have a question". It does
express a lack of understanding. These are just simple English
words, placed in sequence, to express something. Not even
idiomatic.

--
[mail]: Chuck F (cbfalconer at maineline dot net)
[page]: <http://cbfalconer.home .att.net>
Try the download section.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[CBFalconer]

English usage (was: who decides the size of a data type?)

jacob navia wrote:

christian.bau wrote:

>CBFalconer <cbfalco...@yah oo.comwrote:
>>

>>No, Willem. The phrases "I have a doubt" and "my doubt" are
>>quite ordinary English usage. They are more popular in India
>>than in most other English speaking areas. I concede that
>>many native English speakers don't recognize that, but their
>>ignorance is of no concern.

>>
>You are contradicting yourself here. If many native English
>speakers don't recognise a phrase, then it is by definition not
>ordinary English usage.

>
[snip english grammar discussion]
>
So, speaking about debuggers and what happens when a program crash
is off topic for mr Bau. Obviously, discussing english grammar is
not. This is an example of the double standards that the regulars
use: If I discuss english grammar is ON TOPIC in c.l.c. If Jacob
discusses debuggers and debugging that is OFF TOPIC

Well, I let this sit for almost 24 hours before replying. This is
another horrible example of Navias irritation tactics. It would be
quite sufficient to post a short reply saying something like "I
consider this off-topic", and see what response is generated.
Instead he immediately draws back a fist and smashes all nearby in
the nose(s). Note the generic use of 'regulars' to denote any user
that ever expressed disagreement with Navia.

--
[mail]: Chuck F (cbfalconer at maineline dot net)
[page]: <http://cbfalconer.home .att.net>
Try the download section.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Keith Thompson]

Re: English usage (was: who decides the size of a data type?)

CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yah oo.comwrites:

"christian. bau" wrote:

>CBFalconer <cbfalco...@yah oo.comwrote:
>>

>>No, Willem. The phrases "I have a doubt" and "my doubt" are
>>quite ordinary English usage. They are more popular in India
>>than in most other English speaking areas. I concede that many
>>native English speakers don't recognize that, but their
>>ignorance is of no concern.

>>
>You are contradicting yourself here. If many native English
>speakers don't recognise a phrase, then it is by definition not
>ordinary English usage.
>>
>("I have a doubt" is of course an ordinary English sentence,
>but it means something completely different from "I have a
>question").

>
True. It means the originator 'has a doubt' about something or
other. It may be clearable by asking a question, deepening an
explanation, etc. It doesn't mean "I have a question". It does
express a lack of understanding. These are just simple English
words, placed in sequence, to express something. Not even
idiomatic.

The point I think you're missing is that in the Indian dialect of
English, the word "doubt" apparently *is* commonly used to mean
"question".

I won't debate whether this usage is correct, but it wouldn't hurt for
readers of this newsgroup to be aware that it exists. (It's hard to
see how a regular reader could avoid being aware of it, since it's
been discussed here numerous times.)

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keit h) <kst-u@mib.org>
Nokia
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

[Richard Heathfield]

Re: English usage (was: who decides the size of a data type?)

Keith Thompson said:

<snip>

>
The point I think you're missing is that in the Indian dialect of
English, the word "doubt" apparently *is* commonly used to mean
"question".

The point I think /you're/ missing is that we are constantly enjoined to be
generous in what we accept, but strict in what we produce. And we try to
be. But it would sure be good if some *other people* tried doing the same
thing.

Programmers are supposed to be amongst the brightest people on the planet.
They should be able to *learn*. When people show an inability or
unwillingness to learn, that doesn't bode well for their future career as
a programmer.

I won't debate whether this usage is correct, but it wouldn't hurt for
readers of this newsgroup to be aware that it exists.

Agreed, but it also wouldn't hurt for writers to this newsgroup to read the
group for a while before posting, and learn how to use the word
'question'.

--
Richard Heathfield <http://www.cpax.org.uk >
Email: -http://www. +rjh@
Google users: <http://www.cpax.org.uk/prg/writings/googly.php>
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999

[Richard Bos]

Re: English usage (was: who decides the size of a data type?)

Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.orgwrote:

CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yah oo.comwrites:

"christian. bau" wrote:

("I have a doubt" is of course an ordinary English sentence,
but it means something completely different from "I have a
question").

True. It means the originator 'has a doubt' about something or
other. It may be clearable by asking a question, deepening an
explanation, etc. It doesn't mean "I have a question". It does
express a lack of understanding. These are just simple English
words, placed in sequence, to express something. Not even
idiomatic.

>
The point I think you're missing is that in the Indian dialect of
English, the word "doubt" apparently *is* commonly used to mean
"question".

Whereas I'm (un?)reliably informed that in the London dialect, "bare" is
used to mean "very", and "cheers" means "thank you". Shall we adopt
those, as well, on this barely legible newsgroup?

Richard

[Joe Wright]

Re: English usage

Richard Heathfield wrote:

Keith Thompson said:
>
<snip>

>The point I think you're missing is that in the Indian dialect of
>English, the word "doubt" apparently *is* commonly used to mean
>"question".

>
The point I think /you're/ missing is that we are constantly enjoined to be
generous in what we accept, but strict in what we produce. And we try to
be. But it would sure be good if some *other people* tried doing the same
thing.
>
Programmers are supposed to be amongst the brightest people on the planet.
They should be able to *learn*. When people show an inability or
unwillingness to learn, that doesn't bode well for their future career as
a programmer.
>

>I won't debate whether this usage is correct, but it wouldn't hurt for
>readers of this newsgroup to be aware that it exists.

>
Agreed, but it also wouldn't hurt for writers to this newsgroup to read the
group for a while before posting, and learn how to use the word
'question'.
>

I believe you're much too strict. 'Correct' English is determined by
usage. Americans and Australians can use English somewhat differently
than Britains but just as correctly. So Indians.

--
Joe Wright
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
--- Albert Einstein ---

[Keith Thompson]

Re: English usage (was: who decides the size of a data type?)

Richard Heathfield <rjh@see.sig.in validwrites:

Keith Thompson said:
>
<snip>

>>
>The point I think you're missing is that in the Indian dialect of
>English, the word "doubt" apparently *is* commonly used to mean
>"question".

>
The point I think /you're/ missing is that we are constantly enjoined to be
generous in what we accept, but strict in what we produce. And we try to
be. But it would sure be good if some *other people* tried doing the same
thing.
>
Programmers are supposed to be amongst the brightest people on the planet.
They should be able to *learn*. When people show an inability or
unwillingness to learn, that doesn't bode well for their future career as
a programmer.
>

>I won't debate whether this usage is correct, but it wouldn't hurt for
>readers of this newsgroup to be aware that it exists.

>
Agreed, but it also wouldn't hurt for writers to this newsgroup to read the
group for a while before posting, and learn how to use the word
'question'.

I'm not sure why you say I'm missing that point, when I made it in
this very thread 5 days ago:
| In Indian English, "doubt" is often used as a synonym for "question".
| In dialects of English outside India, "doubt" has a connotation of
| disbelief.
|
| Non-Indian readers need to understand this. Indian posters should, I
| suggest, try to use the word "question" rather than "doubt" when
| posting in international forums like this one to avoid confusion.

I didn't reiterate the second part because it wasn't relevant to what
I was responding to.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keit h) <kst-u@mib.org>
Nokia
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

[Keith Thompson]

Re: English usage (was: who decides the size of a data type?)

rlb@hoekstra-uitgeverij.nl (Richard Bos) writes:

Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.orgwrote:

>CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yah oo.comwrites:

"christian. bau" wrote:
>("I have a doubt" is of course an ordinary English sentence,
>but it means something completely different from "I have a
>question").
>
True. It means the originator 'has a doubt' about something or
other. It may be clearable by asking a question, deepening an
explanation, etc. It doesn't mean "I have a question". It does
express a lack of understanding. These are just simple English
words, placed in sequence, to express something. Not even
idiomatic.

>>
>The point I think you're missing is that in the Indian dialect of
>English, the word "doubt" apparently *is* commonly used to mean
>"question".

>
Whereas I'm (un?)reliably informed that in the London dialect, "bare" is
used to mean "very", and "cheers" means "thank you". Shall we adopt
those, as well, on this barely legible newsgroup?

I'd be very interested in seeing a citation of an article in which I
suggested something even vaguely similar to that.

I was merely making an observation, and I've already suggested that
Indian posters should consider avoiding the use of "doubt" as a
synonym for "question" when posting here.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keit h) <kst-u@mib.org>
Nokia
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

[Flash Gordon]

Re: English usage

Keith Thompson wrote, On 21/03/08 16:12:

rlb@hoekstra-uitgeverij.nl (Richard Bos) writes:

>Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.orgwrote:

>>CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yah oo.comwrites:
>>>"christian.b au" wrote:
>>>>("I have a doubt" is of course an ordinary English sentence,
>>>>but it means something completely different from "I have a
>>>>question" ).
>>>True. It means the originator 'has a doubt' about something or
>>>other. It may be clearable by asking a question, deepening an
>>>explanatio n, etc. It doesn't mean "I have a question". It does
>>>express a lack of understanding. These are just simple English
>>>words, placed in sequence, to express something. Not even
>>>idiomatic.
>>The point I think you're missing is that in the Indian dialect of
>>English, the word "doubt" apparently *is* commonly used to mean
>>"question".

>Whereas I'm (un?)reliably informed that in the London dialect, "bare" is
>used to mean "very", and "cheers" means "thank you". Shall we adopt
>those, as well, on this barely legible newsgroup?

>
I'd be very interested in seeing a citation of an article in which I
suggested something even vaguely similar to that.

Well, I can state that outside London (I live a little outside London)
"cheers" is often used to mean "thank you", to me it is idiomatic
English. I have not come across "bare" being used as "very".

I was merely making an observation, and I've already suggested that
Indian posters should consider avoiding the use of "doubt" as a
synonym for "question" when posting here.

I agree.

My opinion is people shout NOT post *just* to point out non-standard
English from a non-native English speaker. However, if posting a
response for other reasons there is nothing wrong with politely pointing
out that it is non-standard English.
--
Flash Gordon