The Computer Contradictionary is a non-fiction book by Stan Kelly-Bootle that compiles a satirical list of definitions of computer industry terms. It was originally published as 'The devil's DP dictionary'. it is an example of "cynical lexicography" in the tradition of Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary.[1] Rather than offering a factual account of usage, its definitions are largely made up by the author.[2]
 | |
| Author | Stan Kelly-Bootle |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
Publication date | May 1995 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 256 pages |
| ISBN | 0-262-61112-0 |
The book was published in May 1995 by MIT Press and is an update of Kelly-Bootle's The Devil's DP Dictionary which appeared in 1981.[3]
Examples
edit- Endless loop. See: Loop, endless
- Loop, endless. See: Endless loop
- Recursion. See: Recursion
Reception
editThe Los Angeles Times panned the book, wrote that it was "smartly-titled" but was an "awfully stupid book".[4] ACM Computing Reviews recommended dipping into it because "a dictionary is a difficult read".[3]
References
edit- ^ "The Court Jester of Computerdom". Dr Dobb's Electronic Review of Books. Archived from the original on 22 February 1997.
- ^ Raymond, Eric S (1996). The New Hacker's Dictionary - 3rd Edition. MIT Press. pp. 534–535.
- ^ a b Blackman, A (Mar 1, 1996). "Review: The computer contradictionary (2nd ed.)". ACM Computing Reviews.
- ^ Harris, Krissy (January 26, 1998). "Dictionaries to De-Encrypt What the Digerati Are Saying". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
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