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From: tainter@gumby.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.lang
Subject: Re: Standardization
Message-ID: <304@gumby.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 21-Feb-85 14:54:39 EST
Article-I.D.: gumby.304
Posted: Thu Feb 21 14:54:39 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 26-Feb-85 06:11:26 EST
References: <283@gumby.UUCP> <5125@tektronix.UUCP> <289@gumby.UUCP> <297@gumby.UUCP>
Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept
Lines: 18

> > > ..... Whether you personally accept it or not, standards exist for
> > 	-Steve Patterson, UWMadison
> My American Heritage defines 'standard' as 'an acknowledged measure of
> comparison for quantitative or qualitative value' and that, to the best
> 						kmo

But what does a dictionary definition of a word have to do with the
real world (particularly since every dictionary is at least 1 year out of date)
or the computer world at large.  Language (in the natural context) is a 
dynamic process not a static object.  Now, before you jump all over me,
I don't mean that you can't give a word any meaning you like (apologies to
Lewis Carrol), simply that the meaning of any word is the currently, and widely,
accepted meaning of that word (or phrase, or idiom, or ad nauseum).

				-- Johnathan A. Tainter,
				I am not a Number! I am a ...
				Now, what is it I am anyway??
				Hold on a moment while I look it up.