Re: [comp.emacs] "Emacs" defined in Collins English Dictionary

[Robert J. Chassell]

Thomas Widmann wrote,

   ... it might interest people in this group that "emacs" is defined
   in the new edition of the Collins English Dictionary (7th edition).
   The dictionary gives the plural as "emacsen", and it is defined as
   follows:  "a powerful computer program used for creating and
   editing text, functioning primarily through keyboard commands".

Unfortunately, the definition is wrong in two ways:

  * first, the definition follows RMS in saying that moving files and
    such is a form of editing.

    Such actions are a form of editing but most people do not speak
    that way.  They speak of renaming a file as different from
    changing a word within a file.  If the Collins English Dictionary
    uses his definition, it needs to explain RMS' idiosyncratic
    language in the definition itself.

  * second, Emacs is much more than an editor (unless you use RMS'
    definition of editing).

It is simpler and shorter to say that Emacs is an integrating
environment, like a command line interface or a graphic user
interface.  Emacs is a virtual lisp machine.

Like a shell which has VI, Emacs has editing.  In the same way, the
various graphic user interfaces have editors and word processors, too.
And you can move or rename files in all the interfaces.

The Emacspeak auditory desktop, although derived from the Emacs
virtual lisp machine, is a different, fourth, form of integrated user
environment.

See

    http://www.rattlesnake.com/notions/four-interfaces.html

A better definition for Emacs is:

   "... a powerful computer program that is one of the four major
    integrated user environments.  Like a command line interface or a
    graphic user interface, Emacs provides editing and other features.
    Although it provides various mouse commands, people often control
    it through keyboard commands.  The Emacspeak auditory desktop is
    derived from this program, but is a different, fourth integrated
    user environment."

or shorter:

   "Emacs is an integrated user environment, like a command line
    interface or a graphic user interface.  It provides editing and
    other features.  Although it provides various mouse commands,
    people often control Emacs through keyboard commands."

People attempting humour use "emacsen" as the plural.

--
    Robert J. Chassell
    address@hidden                         GnuPG Key ID: 004B4AC8
    http://www.rattlesnake.com                  http://www.teak.cc