Navigation: Main page | Reference | Sentences | Chat

Namespaces

Each English word/phrase/expression that is seen as a unit of meaning is introduced into Xinyuyan by placing it in one of a few Namespaces.

Each of the following Namespaces has a corresponding Derived Namespace which has a Return Value that is not itself. This Derived Namespace is marked with "r", for example rb: for b:

• (no mark) .. natural language namespace
• b .. Basis
• ib .. Isolated Basis; a Basis that is valid with no Parameter
• c .. Composite
• ic .. Isolated Composite; a Composite that is valid with no Parameter
• l .. Link; It represents the relationship between Isolated Basis, Isolated Composite, or noun in natural language Namespace. It takes a unique Parameter "aspect=".
• nb .. Negated-basis (a Negated-basis is no longer a Basis)
• s .. Structural Element
• t .. Text (t:b:eat means the sequence of the symbols "b:eat", a t: prefix replaces one usage of the quotation marks)

Return Value

Return Value obeys the Chain Rule and the Regression Rule. Under the Chain Rule, a Token can be returned across multiple layers, and the Return Value is always the inner most layer's Token, similar to the C++ semantics a=b=c where a and b are both set to c. Under the Regression Rule, a Basis from the Derived Namespace rb keeps searching towards inner layers until the first > mark is encountered. (1002a-e)

Communicating in Xinyuyan

Asking questions

s:req(Info) .. The speaker requests Info (asks a question) from the conversation partner. It may be written without the parens, as: s:req Info

To ask a yes-no question: s:req is_true, s:req is_ended, etc.

To ask a wh-question: Put in req_info as a placeholder for the requested information, as in: s:req b:eat(Bob, req_info)

For asking about a required parameter, req_info could be omitted, as in: s:req b:eat(Bob)

Making a suggestion

s:suggest(Condition, Result) .. The speaker tells the conversation partner that if Condition is true, Result woill occur, which is considered desirable by the speaker.

Specifying context

Abbreviation := Definition .. define an abbreviation that is active for only the current context of communication. The Abbreviation should be a few uppercase letters, in order to differentiate from ordinary Tokens.

Syntax

A list is two or more items separated by commas.

The unordered list is denoted with { }. The sequence of the items is not significant. The items are thought to be on the same "level".

The ordered list is denoted with [ ]. There is a sequence for the items, that is significant for the current context.

A Conjunction links two Bases Expressions together.

The emphasis-based system marks Expressions with an asterisk (*) saying relative emphasis, or a superscript O (^O) saying fact goes counter to expectation. There are other superscripts to say fact goes counter to hope, fact matches hope, etc. (0824b-f)

The causation-based system uses a function-like syntax. The markers used are s:cau saying X is the single major cause of Y, s:cor saying X and Y often appear together, s:contrib saying X is one of the many major causes of Y.

A general principle is that a Parameter may only express properties of the Basis itself.

b:eat(only, I, cake) for example.

A list of Bases

• b:react(Reactants) .. Reactants ungergo chemical reaction(s)
• b:comm(Animals) .. Animals exchange information about some Topic through some Means
• b:eat(Animal, Thing) .. Animal consumes Thing through its mouth
• b:have(Subject, Thing) .. Subject is in possession of Thing
• b:hungry(Animal) .. Animal feels emptiness in its stomach and displays a desire for food
• b:make(Subject, Thing) .. Subject creates or produces Thing
• b:move(Thing) .. Thing moves in some Direction
• b:regress(Human, OldHabit) .. Human unintendedly slips back into OldHabit while attempting to change it
• b:sleep(Animal) .. Animal displays reduced responsiveness to environment, relaxation, etc
• b:thoughtful(Human) .. Human displays reduced movement and a contemplative facial expression
• b:transport(Subject, Start, Destination) .. Subject goes from Start to Destination by some Means of transportation
• b:write(Human, Info, Method) .. Human records Info using Method

A list of Composites

• c:decel(Thing) => s:then(b:move(Thing, speed=X), b:move(Thing, speed=lt(X)))
• c:dodge(Animal, Thing) => b:move(Thing, direction=Animal) b:move(Animal, direction=!trajectory(Thing))
• c:ignite(Thing, Reactants) => s:cau(Thing, b:react(Reactants, rate=fast))

Transform

A Transform may be applied to a Basis. (No, this is not linear algebra.) A Transform may modify the order of Parameters, change the referrent to one of the Parameters, and so on.

A list of Transforms

• _s .. Swap Parameter 1 and Parameter 2.

Additional syntax

A Basis has zero or more Parameters. The order of Parameters is determined through a convention: near before far, old before new, subject before object.

In addition, almost all Bases can have the following additional Parameters:

• place
• time

To contact the owner of this webpage, send an email to clydehuang-AT-disroot-DOT-org.

Content of this webpage is available under CC0 1.0.