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From: Phil Runciman <philr@aspexconsulting.co.nz>
To: "python-list@python.org" <python-list@python.org>
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2012 10:25:40 +1200
Subject: RE: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat	OT
Thread-Topic: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat	OT
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Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:22645

=20
> On Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 4:20 PM, Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> wrote:

> > On 4/3/2012 8:39 AM, Nathan Rice wrote:
> >
> > > Ultimately, the answers to your questions exist in the world for you
> > > to see. =A0How does a surgeon describe a surgical procedure? =A0How d=
oes
> > > a chef describe a recipe? =A0How does a carpenter describe the proces=
s
> > > of building cabinets? =A0Aside from specific words, they all use=20
> > > natural language, and it works just fine.
> >
> >
> > Not really. Surgeon's learn by *watching* a surgeon who knows the opera=
tion
> > and next (hopefully) doing a particular surgery under supervision of su=
ch a
> > surgeon, who watches and talks, and may even grab the instruments and
> > re-show. They then really learn by doing the procedure on multiple
> > people. They often kill a few on the way to mastery.
> =20
>=20
> Well, there is declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge.  In all
> these cases, only the procedural knowledge is absolutely necessary,
> but the declarative knowledge is usually a prerequisite to learning
> the procedure in any sort of reasonable manner.

There is also tacit knowledge. Such knowledge is a precursor to declarative=
 knowledge and therefore procedural knowledge. "Tacit knowledge is not easi=
ly shared. It involves learning and skill, but not in a way that can be wri=
tten down. Tacit knowledge consists often of habits and culture that we do =
not recognize in ourselves." Wikipedia.

The process of eliciting tacit knowledge may be time consuming and require =
patience and skill. The following book covers aspects of this: Nonaka, Ikuj=
iro; Takeuchi, Hirotaka (1995), The knowledge creating company: how Japanes=
e companies create the dynamics of innovation.=20

Phil Runciman