Kishotenketsu Programming?

mike_stay asks: "Imperative Programming follows closely the 'outline' style of writing most of us were taught in elementary school. Japanese, however, have a very hard time with that writing style, as they've been trained in the concept of kishotenketsu: stories are usually told by bouncing around between various points of view, which necessarily give different accounts; no attempt is made to say what 'really' happened. 'Good writing style' expects readers to draw the conclusions; writing that is too explicit is not valued. The writing, therefore, tends to be inductive: specific examples precede general principles. The closest thing I can think of to kishotenketsu in programming is functional programming or declarative languages, but then, I'm American. Would other readers point me at other languages with this type of 'eastern' feel?"

Comments

The brain thinks only what the tounge can say

[lyoz]

On the risc of being a lil offtopic, I would like to share the following observations.
Interesting how our brain works. Powerpoint Syndrom is a very fine observation. English is not my first language( and that explains all the gramatical and spelling mistakes :-) ). However, it has been the language of my education. One of the tips'n'tricks that my english teacher from school told me was that in order to imporve my english, I should start thinking in it. The idea was that we our brain uses the first language (urdu in my case), and so our thoughts are limited by the expressions we can come up with using the language. Whatever language we learn afterwards is a process of run-time translations. But then with the passage of time we master other languages and we can train our brain to think in all these languages.

So whats the point in pointing out the obvious. We are taught the basics, like the alpabets, and then we build upon these basics. However our knoweldge, our way of thinking will always be limited by basics. Its just like the decimal system. There are only 10 digits. You ll only be re-using them again and again. Consider how difficult it would have been if we were all to use the binary system for our daily mathematics. Same goes for the possiblity of using hexa or maybe centa number systems.

Edward D. Bono pointed out in his book on lateral thinking the very same things. We are taught a basic way of thinking, of reasoning. Thats limits us in looking at things from a different prospective.

An interesting paper, Beyond Language: Cultural Predispositions in Business Correspondence disucsses this issue.

Re: The brain thinks only what the tounge can say

[Black Parrot]

> The idea was that we our brain uses the first language (urdu in my case), and so our thoughts are limited by the expressions we can come up with using the language.

Funny, most of my highest-order thoughts are done without any language at all. The language-based running stream of thought is merely the chat room of the intellect, not the substance.

Western Example

[zulux]

Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion is written in this style. Eatch section has is own viepoint of the central story - sometimes it's dialog, sometimes it's sureal. Sometimes the same event is playedout but with diferent outcomes depending on who's viewpoint.

It's a good read as well, and an "English Teacher's" favorite so beware - there's a ton of symbolism if you choose to read into it a bit too much.

Re:Ki Sho Ten Ketsu

[Lovejoy]

It makes for some fabulous literature.

The problem with kishotenketsu isn't that it's so different from western thought. The problem is that most Japanese people don't learn it or any form of composition. Their education system is geared toward the 20th century. It produces excellent factory workers and "sarariman" but not great independent thinkers. It produces folks that know a lot, but don't necessarily know how to apply it in new ways.

I would not be surprised to see this turn around in the very near future. It seems to me that Monbusho (the Ministry of Ed.) has seen the light and we may see some reforms come.

In my experience, it takes them a long time to make a decision to change, but once the decisions have been made, they can move VERY fast. If they reform, the US had better get on the ball, or we'll be left in the dust.

Finally, I have enormous respect for Japan. I think everyone who could possibly afford the trip should visit at least once. Japan is beautiful, complex, banal, overwhelming, frustrating, and fun all at the same time. It's a fabulous place.