complexity measures

[Isidore Dyen]

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
 
The point about the theory of the equicomplexity of languages is that an
increase in simplicity must be offset by a an increase in complexity. I do
not reckon that anybody is actually going to work the details out in a
particular case, but there has rto be some way of preventing languages
from increasing in complexity ad infinitum or similarly increasing in
simplicity, or do they?
 
On Sat, 17 Jan 1998, Larry Trask wrote:
 
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have received a number of further responses to my summary of the
> responses to my original posting seeking a term, and I hope to post a
> comprehensive reply to all of them on HISTLING within a couple of
> days.  But one point I can clear up right away.
>
> David Lightfoot writes:
>
> >    I should have thought that if there is a simplification in some
> > part of a system, there doesn't necessarily have to be compensating
> > complexification elsewhere.
>
> Agreed.  It was never my intention to suggest that a simplification
> must necessarily be accompanied by a complexification, and I hope I
> have not given that impression.  My point was merely that this *often*
> happens, and that a name for such a combination would be desirable.
>
> Larry Trask
> COGS
> University of Sussex
> Brighton BN1 9QH
> UK
>
> larryt at cogs.susx.ac.uk
>