skyler@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (10/30/88)
Of all the possible languages, computer languages are probably about the most logical. Therefore, if Cixous and Lacan et al are right, women would be most alienated from computer languages. And, as I understand it, AI assumes a highly logical understructure to language--most theorists keep searching for the deep logic. Hence, if that is a purely male approach to language--if it is phallogocentric-- then women are left out. -Trish
bch@uncecs.edu (Byron C. Howes) (11/01/88)
Perhaps I'm missing something here, but I can't agree that computer languages are more logical in any sense than any other sort of language. It's like saying that some languages are more rational (in expression) than another. The adjective just doesn't seem to apply. This doesn't blunt the original argument however. What are traditionally thought of as computer languages are composed primarily, if not entirely, of imperative sentences possibly modifed by conditional clauses. If we can say that men are socialized to lead and women to follow then we can say that the territory of computer language imperatives may be alien to women. --Byron -- Byron C. Howes Computer Systems Manager bch@uncecs.edu UNC Educational Computing Service
ps@ucsd.edu (11/02/88)
In article <5714@ecsvax.uncecs.edu> bch@uncecs.edu (Byron C. Howes) writes: ... >This doesn't blunt the original argument however. What are >traditionally thought of as computer languages are composed primarily, >if not entirely, of imperative sentences possibly modifed by conditional >clauses. If we can say that men are socialized to lead and women to >follow then we can say that the territory of computer language >imperatives may be alien to women. > >--Byron If a hypothesis has as a necessary consequence something that is clearly contrary to observable fact, the hypothesis needs to be modified or trashed. I have not noticed any tendency for women to have more difficulty than men with "the territory of computer language imperatives". Some of the major contributions to programming languages have been made by women. Is it likely that the territory of computer language imperatives is alien to Grace Hopper? If so, how and why has she done so much to enhance it? There may be argument about exactly how much Ada, Countess Lovelace contributed, but it is clear that she could understand and handle the basic concepts of programming languages. The territory of computer language imperatives is not alien to women. I am very much at home in that territory, and know both personally and by reputation of many women who are mistresses of it. The only logical conclusion from demonstrating that a hypothesis leads to a contrary-to-observation "fact" is to consider the hypothesis as it stands to be disproved. Either fix the hypothesis to take into account the facts, or discard it, but don't use it to deduce fallicies. ps (Patricia Shanahan) uucp : ucsd!celerity!ps arpa : ucsd!celerity!ps@nosc phone: (619) 271-9940