grammar

Because real lexicons are big and complex, from a software engineering perspective it is best to write simple grammars that have a simple, well-defined way, of pulling out the information they need from vast lexicons. That is, grammars should be thought of as separate entities which can access the information contained in lexicons. We can then use specialised mechanisms for efficiently storing the lexicon and retrieving data from it.

We must learn a new grammar of power in a world that is made up more of the common good – or the common bad – than of self-interest or national interest.

a grammar of geography

11 January 2012, Graeme Paton, “A green light for more grammars?”, in The Daily Telegraph: