• Corpus ID: 44764020

The syntax and semantics of the proposed international algebraic language of the Zurich ACM-GAMM Conference

@inproceedings{Backus1959TheSA,
  title={The syntax and semantics of the proposed international algebraic language of the Zurich ACM-GAMM Conference},
  author={John Warner Backus},
  booktitle={IFIP Congress},
  year={1959}
}

• J. Backus
• Published in IFIP Congress 1959
• Computer Science

This paper gives a summary of the syntax and interpretation rules of the proposed international algebraic language put forward by the Zurich ACM-GAMM Conference, followed by a formal , complete presentation of the same information. Notations are presented for numbers, numerical variables, Boolean variables , relations, n-dimensional arrays, functions, operators and algebraic expressions. Means are provided in the language for the assignment of values to variables, conditional execution of statements , iterative procedures, formation of compound statements from sequences of statements, definition of new statements for arbitrary procedures, and the re-use and alteration of program segments. The proposed language is intended to provide convenient and concise means for expressing virtually all procedures of numerical computation while employing relatively few syntactical rules and types of statement. La syl1taxe et la semantique de langage algebraic international propose par la Conference de Zurich (ACM et GAMM). L'autcur caracterise brievement la syntaxe et les regles d'inter-pretation du langage algebrique international propose a la Conference de Zurich (ACM-GAMM) puis en donne un expose formel et complet. II indique les notations utilisees pour designer les nombres, les variables numeriques ou booIeennes, les relations, les agencements pluri-dimensionnels, les fonctions, les operateurs et les expressions algebriques. Ce langage permet d'exprimer difierentes operations: affectation de valeurs aux variables, execution conditionnelle des expressions, procedes iteratifs, formation d'expressions complexes a partir d'une suite d'expressions elementaires, definition de nouvelles expressions pour des operations arbitraires, reemploi et modification de certaines parties du programme. Le lang age envisage est conyu pour permettre d'exprimer la quasi totalite des procedes de calcul numerique de maniere com-mode et concise a l'aide d'un nombre relativement restreint de regles de syntaxe et d'expressions-types.