[maryrosecook]

Most of the stuff I have learnt from the experiences of young children using Isla comes from second hand reports from parents. I have also tested it on non-programmer adults.

There are some definite mistakes in the language.

It uses named nouns, yet in real world, we usually refer to things with adjectives and types. We say "pass me the red apple", not "that apple is called Jimmy, now pass me Jimmy".

People get confused about the difference between strings and variables.

To define a function, you make a list and add built in functions to it. This is awkward.

[LeafStorm]

Have you looked at Inform? There's a paper on its Web site [1] discussing its approach to modeling the world.

[1] http://inform7.com/learn/papers/

[cpeterso]

I was reminded of Inform and also the world modeling languages for AI systems like Cyc.

[igravious]

Regarding referring. There's indexicality[1], no? (Bit of a pretentious word but it's the right word I think.) We point. (We point with our index finger, even). And we say, 'this', and 'that'. and 'these', and 'those'[2].

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indexicality

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonstrative_adjective

In a way (when you think about it) "pass me the red apple" is too succinct. Maybe, "there is a red apple", "pass me it" would be expressible is Isla.

And honest to God. I swear I had an Isla-like mini-epiphany about 6 years ago where I wondered if a homoiconic computer language could be fashioned using white space instead of the () of the Lisps and use regular words instead mathematical symbols. It's interesting that you don't have numbers yet. Numbers (written arabic numerals) are very special words. Also it'd be nice considering Isla is using natural language that it speaks the kid's language - so at the start of a block the kid says, "hablo español" or "i speak english" and then all the do-ing words are in the correct language. And Isla needs to grök áccènts on variables for most European languages bar English, seems like it doesn't? (Sorry for nitpicks! Maybe I can help with the coding.)

I applaud your creativity.

[nathanathan]

> It uses named nouns, yet in real world, we usually refer to things with adjectives and types. We say "pass me the red apple", not "that apple is called Jimmy, now pass me Jimmy".

That's an interesting insight. The "pass me the red apple" version seems a bit like a declarative query language.