[comp.lang.smalltalk] Origin of "Smalltalk" - another theory

craig@unicus.UUCP (Craig D. Hubley) (06/04/87)

Yet another theory on the origin of the name "Smalltalk":

Object-oriented programming is based on the concept of modular,
self-contained packages of code and data that are usually SMALL
(at least in comparison to their monolithic 'structured' counterparts)
and communicate via TALK (messages 'between equals' as opposed to
a hierarchy of calling routines).

This occured to me shortly after reading the Byte Smalltalk issue in 1981.
I would actually be surprised if it turns out the name has another origin.
This one seems very natural and captures a couple of the obvious differences
between structured and object-oriented programming.

Any of the original designers care to comment?

tubman@sask.UUCP (06/08/87)

The origin of the name "Smalltalk" -- according its inventor, Alan Kay,
quoted in "The AI Business" (eds. P. H. Winston & K. A. Prendergast; MIT
Press, 1984), p. 174:

	"We called Smalltalk Smalltalk so that nobody would expect anything
	 from it."


					Jim Tubman
					The Computer-Guided Diagnosis Project
					University of Saskatchewan
					Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
					Canada	S7N 0W0

		"World Peace through Calendar Reform."