THE TREATMENT OF AMBIGUITY AND PARADOX IN MECHANICAL LANGUAGES
Abstract
A summary is given of the basic definitions of the theory of mechanical languages, and of the main processors for the prefix languages. A discussion is given of language extension with the examples of hierarchies of extensions in prefix languages. The relationship is established between language extension and increase in control ambiguity. A language of syntactic ambiguity descriptions is designed and the effective processor translating from this language to the derived-language naming language is specified. The concepts of recognition depth for both syntactic ambiguities and analyzability of mechanical languages are developed, and examples are given to show the existence of both types at all depths, including infinite depth. Examples of control ambiguity are developed ranging from the extremely useful to the paradoxical. Among the paradoxes analyzed in this way are the Epimenides paradox, the Lewis Carroll Tortoise and Achilles paradox, and the Russell paradox. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0259782
Entities
People
- Saul Gorn
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania