Question about circular elaboration order error (GNAT).
in [ADA]
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From: Adam Beneschan on 14 Apr 2008 19:36 On Apr 14, 1:21 pm, Robert A Duff <bobd...(a)shell01.TheWorld.com> wrote: > > Btw, I never noticed the use of "dependence" vs. "dependency" > > before. Is there a difference in English? > > I don't know. Most people say "dependency". But the Ada 83 RM used > "dependence", and we didn't change it for Ada 95 (or 2005), > and I've gotten used to typing that. I checked Merriam-Webster Online (www.m-w.com). The first meaning of "dependency" is simply a reference to the first meaning of "dependence". (The other two meanings of "dependency" aren't close to being relevant.) The first meaning of "dependence" is "the quality or state of being dependent; especially: the quality or state of being influenced or determined by or subject to another". I think this is meaning of "dependence" that applies here (I'm pretty sure the "drug addiction" meaning does not). So I'd say that for our purpose, the two words are interchangeable, at least in American English usage, which is what Merriam-Webster is a dictionary of. -- Adam
From: Georg Bauhaus on 15 Apr 2008 03:13
Adam Beneschan wrote: > On Apr 14, 1:21 pm, Robert A Duff <bobd...(a)shell01.TheWorld.com> > wrote: > >>> Btw, I never noticed the use of "dependence" vs. "dependency" >>> before. Is there a difference in English? >> I don't know. Most people say "dependency". But the Ada 83 RM used >> "dependence", and we didn't change it for Ada 95 (or 2005), >> and I've gotten used to typing that. > > I checked Merriam-Webster Online (www.m-w.com). [...] > > So I'd say that for our purpose, the two words are interchangeable, at > least in American English usage, which is what Merriam-Webster is a > dictionary of. Uhm, there is---or was---a distinction which is of some historical interest, if not helpful in rediscovering the distinguished meaning of either word. Not sure whether everyone will like Independency Day 8-) My old 1974/82 (but not my new, 2005) Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary has only this to say about "dependency": "country governed or controlled by another." The newer edition additionally explains that "dependency" now also refers to a state of unneccessary reliance on the part of the dependents. Dependency is exemplified in "dependency culture". The definition of "dependence" includes the word "need". E.g. A needs the help of X in order to survive. Both "dependence" and "dependency" are used in place of "addiction", according to OALD. Otherwise the dictionary seems to agree with M-W online. I found that "concurrence" and "occurrency" ... had a funny taste when I tried them ;) Can the widespread use of "dependency" for "dependence" be attributed to learning words in globalized technical contexts and not through a study of English? -- I hadn't been aware of this before to be sure. Thanks for the question. |