From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=DKIM_INVALID,DKIM_SIGNED, HTML_MESSAGE,MAILING_LIST_MULTI autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Received: (qmail 6825 invoked from network); 23 Dec 2021 18:02:47 -0000 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (45.79.103.53) by inbox.vuxu.org with ESMTPUTF8; 23 Dec 2021 18:02:47 -0000 Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 957509CF01; Fri, 24 Dec 2021 04:02:45 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6A7F29CECD; Fri, 24 Dec 2021 04:02:40 +1000 (AEST) Authentication-Results: minnie.tuhs.org; dkim=fail reason="signature verification failed" (2048-bit key; unprotected) header.d=ccil-org.20210112.gappssmtp.com header.i=@ccil-org.20210112.gappssmtp.com header.b="WCTIskOd"; dkim-atps=neutral Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id C5C009CECD; Fri, 24 Dec 2021 04:02:39 +1000 (AEST) Received: from mail-wm1-f42.google.com (mail-wm1-f42.google.com [209.85.128.42]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 02F469CEAD for ; Fri, 24 Dec 2021 04:02:39 +1000 (AEST) Received: by mail-wm1-f42.google.com with SMTP id g132so4205939wmg.2 for ; Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:02:38 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=ccil-org.20210112.gappssmtp.com; s=20210112; h=mime-version:references:in-reply-to:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc; bh=z7frioS5N1crrtA4sb6OTBzwkm+7McapNDTxBOErGbQ=; b=WCTIskOdbxpHsMjOZA1EHhKWHm08zz4/p+akHtQWTpiAXgnz68J9tj8s9iI0RUPJR6 Ao8MgEOYOqgz7YKvRKgW6ZTAJMfl/zBRCark3pDmDMmRXqgIDH2PwBbxL4F4bv+pWiLD KaMT1MqThWD4uGlvo60Kc8jV94D3FXszbczQ51Mkw04DcdYom/mlB0kzREBJaVlclZC1 HxQRF1vOecBIHk3ltqbKyJhBU04Jk/xHxmWL9SWzovDSLwtoNZzQhyKrjJJz1HG2GTIi 3+cCGYx23ErRtbh4dCE6VyXWh3gKACvjAzc2WKUi/+4gRECdOcyaBvDobanlyUpAPuq3 aOcw== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20210112; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:references:in-reply-to:from:date :message-id:subject:to:cc; bh=z7frioS5N1crrtA4sb6OTBzwkm+7McapNDTxBOErGbQ=; b=iznjQ2X50eGX6HGHnob6OrFBICABxkIgh0wXUAaeqOigm/mI//YYSDJks2Qw7mSEV7 vpcobZygRnSjFb9eST5BBYyGOncNfpfwLoyWQoKWurFtynfcCrw8QYinufM4M847+p6v /xuj8/rVSwCBA3kMXDkVGpFPMfD8gdiQkK4nu7ZYVvNhb2aAJdZfxV/mqHghvMhEIFuK xvsiyrjyZSzkzOxTGqwtCX/tT48b2qvI6loX20wGYtaFKRbD1SfjUUnqPQutBbqJi1Lt 9L4nPACaMLqdVoddl7aYJKQjbbUfXXrML16AUXsouhpiv7tVFwWhXySsNuuJECpY33gJ Mi0A== X-Gm-Message-State: AOAM531HeUnlU5rJwvfZjSd6pZTEWFiHBC1XMUYzXNzo5EC5RJDsaHni 4n+VWIFPKjpiHjMT/Dz1xL4a48pYuqg6gcvQfc1mmthGh1W4ng== X-Google-Smtp-Source: ABdhPJwAPy70tNGOYV3km22Mem41QZ07eowcEirGjacM5/s3iHYBSDpjKtGwpjlRRPez7q2sdIBTsCPPiWXsEuvkbc8= X-Received: by 2002:a7b:ce83:: with SMTP id q3mr2463015wmj.37.1640282557591; Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:02:37 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 References: <818A6F70-D117-471A-9E08-E37B34F8FAE0@mac.com> <20211223021805.GK24180@mcvoy.com> <20211223141958.GR24180@mcvoy.com> <20211223160011.GS24180@mcvoy.com> <3915e4db-6740-9777-03f4-4c6b4c09045c@csp-partnership.co.uk> <20211223163532.GW24180@mcvoy.com> <0531de6e-6c93-bdde-9ee4-cd4ab1f54e0b@csp-partnership.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <0531de6e-6c93-bdde-9ee4-cd4ab1f54e0b@csp-partnership.co.uk> From: John Cowan Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:02:26 -0500 Message-ID: To: Dr Iain Maoileoin Subject: Re: [COFF] [TUHS] Photos of University Computer Labs - now off topic X-BeenThere: coff@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.26 Precedence: list List-Id: Computer Old Farts Forum List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Cc: COFF Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="===============4719683943239014129==" Errors-To: coff-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "COFF" --===============4719683943239014129== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0000000000002d49bc05d3d40b89" --0000000000002d49bc05d3d40b89 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" -tuhs +coff On Thu, Dec 23, 2021 at 11:47 AM Dr Iain Maoileoin < iain@csp-partnership.co.uk> wrote: I totally agree. My question is about language use (or drift) - nothing > else. In Scotland - amongst the young - "Arithmetic" is now referred > to as "Maths". I am aware of the transition but cant understand what > caused it to happen! I dont know if other countries had/have the same > slide from a specific to a general - hence the questions - nothing deeper. > Language change is inexplicable in general. About all we know is that some directions of change are more likely than others: we no more know *why* language changes than we know *why* the laws of physics are what they are. Both widening (_dog_ once meant 'mastiff') and narrowing (_deer_ once meant 'animal') are among the commonest forms of semantic change. In particular, in the 19C _arithmetic_ meant 'number theory', and so the part concerned with the computation of "ambition, distraction, uglification, and derision" (Lewis Carroll) was _elementary arithmetic_. (Before that it was _algorism_.) When _higher arithmetic_ got its own name, the _elementary_ part was dropped in accordance with Grice's Maxim of Quantity ("be as informative as you can, giving as much information as necessary, but no more"). This did not happen to _algebra_, which still can mean either elementary or abstract algebra, still less to _geometry_. In addition, from the teacher's viewpoint school mathematics is a continuum, including the elementary parts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and in recent times probability theory and statistics, for which there is no name other than _ mathematics_ when taken collectively. > In lower secondary school we would go to both Arithmetic AND also to > Maths classes. > What was taught in the latter? --0000000000002d49bc05d3d40b89 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

-tuhs +coff

On Thu, Dec 23, 2021 at 11:47 AM Dr Iain Maoileo= in <iain@csp-partnership.c= o.uk> wrote:

I totally agree.=C2=A0 My question is abo= ut language use (or drift) - nothing
else.=C2=A0 In Scotland - amongst the young -=C2=A0 "Arithmetic" = is now referred
to as "Maths".=C2=A0=C2=A0 I am aware of the transition but cant = understand what
caused it to happen!=C2=A0 I dont know if other countries had/have the same=
slide from a specific to a general - hence the questions - nothing deeper.<= br>

Language change is= inexplicable in general. About all we know is that some directions of chan= ge are more likely than others: we no more know *why* language changes than= we know *why* the laws of physics are what they are.=C2=A0 Both widening (= _dog_ once meant 'mastiff') and narrowing (_deer_ once meant 'a= nimal') are=C2=A0among the commonest forms of semantic change.

In particular, i= n the 19C _arithmetic_ meant 'number theory',=C2=A0and so the part = concerned with the computation of "ambition, distraction, uglification= ,=C2=A0and derision" (Lewis Carroll) was _elementary=C2=A0arithmetic_.= =C2=A0 (Before that it was _algorism_.)=C2=A0 When _higher=C2=A0arithmetic_= got its own name, the _elementary_ part was dropped in=C2=A0accordance wit= h Grice's Maxim of Quantity ("be=C2=A0as informative=C2=A0as you c= an, giving=C2=A0as much information=C2=A0as necessary, but no more").= =C2=A0 This did not happen to _algebra_, which still can mean either elemen= tary or=C2=A0abstract=C2=A0algebra, still less to _geometry_.

In=C2=A0addition, fro= m the teacher's viewpoint school mathematics is=C2=A0a continuum, inclu= ding the elementary parts of arithmetic,=C2=A0algebra, geometry, trigonomet= ry,=C2=A0and in recent times probability theory=C2=A0and statistics, for wh= ich there is no name other than _ mathematics_ when taken collectively.=C2= =A0
=C2=A0
In lower secondary school we would go to= both Arithmetic AND also to
Maths classes.

Wha= t was taught in the latter?

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