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Abstract

The choice of keywords in the design of programming languages is compared to the formation of neologisms, or new words, in natural languages. Examination of keywords in high-level programming languages shows that they are formed using mechanisms analogous to those observed in English. The use of mirror words as closing keywords is a conspicuous exceptions.

@article{eastman82aComment,
  author={Caroline M. Eastman},
  title={A comment on English neologisms and programming language keywords},
  journal={Communications of the ACM},
  year={1982},
  month={December},
  volume={25},
  number={12},
  url={http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/~amag/langev/paper/eastman82aComment.html}
}