Re: [PATCH] delete_module.2: Update man to actual syscall behaviour

[Alejandro Colomar <alx@kernel.org>]

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[Off-topic; just language curiosity; feel free to ignore]

Hi Branden,

On Tue, Feb 20, 2024 at 07:20:15AM -0600, G. Branden Robinson wrote:
> At 2024-02-20T12:21:44+0300, Alexander Ofitserov wrote:
> > Parameter O_NONBLOCK described in man doesn't exist anymore in kernel
> > versions 3.13+, which is quite old, only O_TRUNC parameter present for
> > actual kernel version, O_NONBLOCK does nothing.
> 
> Please be aware that "actual" and "aktuell" are false friends in German
> and English.  I suspect that you mean "current" here.
> 
> https://speakspokehavespoken.com/2020/04/16/15-english-german-false-friends/

That's also taught in Spanish high school.  The Spanish word is "actual"
too, which means current.

However, I found in dictionaries some time ago that English "actual" can
mean Spanish "actual" (i.e., "current", "present").

See some `dict actual` entries:

	From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

	  Actual \Ac"tu*al\ (#; 135), a. [OE. actuel, F. actuel, L.
	     actualis, fr. agere to do, act.]
	...
	  
	     3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the
		actual situation of the country.
		[1913 Webster]

and

	From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

	  actual
	      adj
	...
	      5: being or existing at the present moment; "the ship's actual
		 position is 22 miles due south of Key West"

Some other dictionaries don't acknowledge this meaning, and claim it's
a mistake.  Do you know who is right about it?  I fear some dictionaries
might be ahistorically removing that meaning.  Even if that meaning
wasn't the main one, it probably was correct some time in the future.
I'd like to see some investigation showing history of that meaning
before claiming it's wrong.  I rather call out the Cambridge dictionary
and others as being wrong.

Have a lovely day!
Alex

> 
> Some English speakers will be aware of this usage error, others won't,
> and "es kann mach dem irritieren".[1]  ;-)
> 
> It can be especially confusing in contexts where something "actual" has
> a "virtual" counterpart.
> 
> Regards,
> Branden
> 
> [1] This is bad German.  Do not imitate except for humorous purposes. :P

-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es/>
Looking for a remote C programming job at the moment.

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