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Re: terminology

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Stefan Ram wrote:
> Sometimes, I was being criticized for making up non-standard
>   terminology. If there is a standard term for the following,
>   then please tell me so:

<http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-6.html>

>   In 
> 
> java.lang.Thread     . dumpStack()
> java.lang.System.out . print( 2 )
> 
>   I do call the source code part in front of the last dot a
>   /context/.

Fully-qualified type name.
<http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-6.html#jls-6.5.5.2>
 
>   I do call the simple name between the last dot and the first
>   parentheses a /verb/. (So a verb does never contain a dot.)

Simple method name.
<http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-6.html#jls-6.5.7.1>

>   (I do /not/ call this »method name«, since I want to exclude
>   texts with dots, like »>java.lang.Thread.dumpStack«, which 
>   are also method names in Java AFAIK.)

Qualified method name.
<http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-6.html#jls-6.5.7.2>

>   I do call the simple call after the last dot up to the last
>   parentheses a /sentence/.

Method invocation expression, except that includes the qualifier. There is no standard term for what you call a "sentence", nor would most Java programs have the faintest clue what you mean by that word.
<http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-15.html#jls-15.12>

>   (I do /not/ call this »[method ]call«, since the whole lines
>   including the dots are also called »[method ]calls« or
>   »[method ]invocations« in Java.)

There's always a qualifier in a method invocation, so there is no such thing as an invocation without one. The qualifier is just implicit by the grace of 'import', but it's explicit in the JVM regardless.

To be consistent with Java terminology, use the term "simple method invocation", which is not official but at least it's explicable.

> 
>     context             sentence
> .------------------.   .------------.
> java.lang.Thread     . dumpStack()
> java.lang.System.out . print    ( 2 )
>                        '-------'
>                          verb
> '------------------------------'
>   not a verb, because of dots
> '-----------------------------------'
>   not a sentence, because of dots
> 
>   Ok, »context« /is/ a standard JLS term, but »verb« is less

"Context" in the JLS has several meanings, all identical to the standard English usage, not a technical context:
<http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-6.html#jls-6.5.1>
Here are a few of them:

 - In a package declaration (§7.4)
 - To the left of the "." in a qualified PackageName
 - In a single-type-import declaration
 - To the left of the "." in a single-static-import declaration
 - To the left of the "<" in a parameterized type
 - In an explicit type argument list in a method or constructor invocation
 - As a PostfixExpression
 - Before the "(" in a method invocation expression
 - To the left of the "=" sign in an annotation's element value pair

and many more. Your attempt to reduce "context" to one specific construct amongst this plethora is at variance with Java's terminology.

>   so (although sometimes used in OOP, IIRC), and »sentence«
>   was invented by me, but seems natural, once one accepts »verb«.
> 
>   However, if there are already standard Java terms for this,
>   I'd gladly use them.

Quite frankly I'm surprised that you aren't already using the terms defined in the JLS where they exist, and following their pattern when they don't. I'm especially surprised that you'd use terms differently from how they do ("context"). I strongly suggest that you use the terminology from the JLS.

-- 
Lew

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Re: terminology Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2012-04-19 17:17 -0700
  Re: terminology markspace <-@.> - 2012-04-19 20:01 -0700
    Re: terminology Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2012-04-20 07:09 -0300
    Re: terminology Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2012-04-20 08:05 -0700
    Re: terminology markspace <-@.> - 2012-04-20 11:03 -0700
    Re: "static context" Lew <noone@lewscanon.com> - 2012-04-21 04:15 -0700

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