Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!forsight!gat
From: gat@robotics.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Erann Gat)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp
Subject: Re: FUNCALL question
Message-ID: <388@forsight.Jpl.Nasa.Gov>
Date: 2 Feb 90 17:05:05 GMT
References: <3277@accuvax.nwu.edu> <1990Jan28.175437.19293@hellgate.utah.edu> <PK.90Feb2153658@kaarne.tut.fi>
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Lines: 16

In article <PK.90Feb2153658@kaarne.tut.fi>, pk@tut.fi (Kellom{ki Pertti) writes:
> Most Common Lisp implementations (Allegro, Kyoto, Symbolics among
> others), however, extend the semantics [ of FUNCALL ]
> by saying that if fn evaluates
> to a symbol, then the *global* (yuch!) function definition of that symbol is
> used.

This is not an extension.  On page 32 of CLtL it says, "A symbol may serve
as a function; an attempt to invoke a symbol as a function causes the
contents of the symbol's [global] function cell to be used."

BTW, thanks to Jeff and Sandra for setting me straight on the distinction
between symbols and local indentifiers.  I really was confused on this
point!

E.