Re: mdocml's .Ql doesn't map to original and GNU mdoc(7)

[Ingo Schwarze <schwarze@usta.de>]

Hi Steffen,

Steffen Nurpmeso wrote on Thu, Jan 01, 2015 at 08:01:36PM +0100:

> seems to happily ignore to replace that style-centric
> 
>   -.It Sx \&Ql Ta single-quoted literal text: Ql text
> 
> with the definitely more correct semantics-centric
> 
>   +.It Sx \&Ql Ta format quoted literal text: Ql text
> 
> which the quoted literal mark-up command .Ql is all about.

The mdoc(7) language is somewhat inconsistent in the following
respect: It contains many macros that are purely semantic, but also
some that are purely presentational (and even some abominations
that are a bit of both, like .Tn).  It's the same ailing that
traditional HTML had, and that is now mostly resolved in HTML5 -
no wonder since both mdoc(7) and traditional HTML date from the
same time, plus/minus less than five years.

The .Ql macro is one of those that are purely presentational.
It requests two things: "literal font" (which is a purely
presentational aspect) and "single quotes" (which is a purely
presentational aspect just as well).

So, for a one-line description, "single-quoted literal" is as
exact as it gets: both making it clear that this is purely
presentational, and stating precisely how it looks.

Your proposed wording "format quoted literal" does *not* indicate
any semantic expressiveness either, so i don't understand why you
call it "semantics-centric".  Besides, it has two issues:

 1. The word "format" is redundant.  It is implied by the purpose
    of the MACRO OVERVIEW list and applies to all macros.
    Consequently, not a single instance of that word exists
    in the whole section.

 2. Dropping the word "single" seems wrong.  It merely loses
    precision for no good reason that i can see.  That's
    particularly bad since all the other entries for "Physical
    enclosures" explicitly name the enclosing character.
    So i don't understand why you call it "more correct".

> But now i feel rather hesitant.. and.. no, i won't continue.

Well, *if* i am wrong, i'm willing to learn in which way.

Happy New Year for you,
  Ingo
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