undefined | Better HN

0 pointsjamesaguilar13y ago0 comments

Conversely, on its own, the fact that they remove some ambiguities is not a sufficient reason to use them.

Since the downvoters disagree, I'll provide a proof.

1. Suppose resolution of ambiguities is a sufficient reason for a separate case in written language.

2. Ambiguities exist that are not resolved.

3. New cases are not created to resolve these.

4. By contradiction, 1 is false.

QED

There may be other reasons which in addition to the resolution of ambiguity are sufficient to justify case, but you can't simply cite the resolution of ambiguity and say conclude that case is justified.

0 comments

2 comments · 1 top-level

Zikes13y ago· 1 in thread

No language is perfectly unambiguous, but language evolution should trend toward clarity, not away from it.

jamesaguilarOP13y ago

Or, a language should tend toward simplicity, without unnecessary frills. Which you'd prefer is probably just taste.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse