On 15 Sep 2003, Mathieu Roy wrote: > Keith Stephen Dunwoody <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> a tapot? : > > > On 15 Sep 2003, Mathieu Roy wrote: > > > > > MJ Ray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> a tapot? : > > > > > > > On 2003-09-15 07:40:04 +0100 Mathieu Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > - But it may also means that the only content that can be on a > > > > > Debian CD must be software under the definition that I > > > > > copied from two dictionnaries in the mail I just sent. [...] > > > > > > > > For one, I cannot understand where you get this requirement. > > > > > > > > Curiously, dicofr.com claims that "logiciel" was defined in 1967 by > > > > Philippe Renard as a direct replacement for the English meaning, as > > > > the intangible part of the computer, but then goes on to say it is now > > > > a synonym for program. My nearby copy of Larousse and > > > > francophonie.hachette-livre.fr only have the program meaning. Maybe > > > > French has become corrupted, similar to some English dictionaries? > > > > Someone with more resources > > > > > > > > > I do not need dicofr to define the word Logiciel. > > > > > > But anyway, the following is the definition of the Academie Fran?aise: > > > > > > > > > 1)*LOGICIEL n. m. XXe si?cle. D?riv? de logique. > > > > > > INFORM. Ensemble structur? de programmes remplissant une > > > fonction d?termin?e, permettant l'accomplissement d'une t?che > > > donn?e. Logiciel de traitement de texte, de dessin. Logiciel > > > ?ducatif, p?dagogique. Logiciel de simulation, de jeu. Le > > > logiciel d'exploitation d'un ordinateur. Il s'est substitu? ? > > > l'anglais Software, qui n'a plus ? ?tre employ?. > > > > > > > > > It's pretty clear. You may claim that the Academie Fran?aise and all > > > the French people use a corrupted definition of Logiciel (it's not > > > that the etymology would says). But the French language is made by the > > > French and by the Academie Fran?aise. > > > > > > > I think you missed the point. I believe the point was that logiciel was > > originally intended as a replacement for "software", but now seems to be > > more of a replacement for "program". > > I think you missed the point. > I think that it has been a replacement for program from the start. The > etymology of the word says so.
Il s'est substitue a l'anglais Software, qui n'a plus a etre employe. (Sorry for the lack of accents). Doesn't this translate to (roughly, it's been a while since I studied french): "It replaces the English "Software", which is not to be used any more."? But this is off topic. -- Keith
