System Design, Pattern Languages, and Cognitive Grammar
Seed idea: If Alexander's work tells us a design is a language, can we use linguistics to better understand it? With connections to system design, pattern languages, and Ronald Langacker's Cognitive Grammar.
Part 1: 00:56
Patterns as functional pairings of context and form, pattern languages, generic patterns vs. unique languages designed for a project
Mentioned:
Patterns as functional pairings of context and form, pattern languages, generic patterns vs. unique languages designed for a project
Mentioned:
- System design per Taguchi was discussed in Episode 4
- Alexander defines form and context in Notes on the Synthesis of Form
- The book: A Pattern Language
- The pattern language for the Eishin School is detailed in Battle for the Life and Beauty of the Earth
Part 2: 11:26
Speaking the language of Basecamp's patterns: "bucket access" and "commentables"
Part 3: 16:38
Langacker's Cognitive Grammar, symbols, phonological and semantic poles, defining Shape Up as a system, how system components are like semantic poles of symbols, naming things
Mentioned:
- Ronald Langacker's landmark books: Foundations of Cognitive Grammar Vol 1 and Vol 2
- See also this newer introductory text by Langacker: Cognitive Grammar: A Basic Introduction
- On unit status and the "chalk sharpener" example, see this Cognitive Grammar lecture by Martin Hilpert (29:08)
- Repetition and scale transformation were discussed on Episode 3
- For interdependent vs. modular architectures, see Chapter 6 of The Innovator's Solution