Robotic semantics

摘要

I read Colin Barras's article on literacy in robots with interest as well as some amusement, given the quirks and vagaries of the English language (27 November, p 22). It is easy to envision a robot-owner presenting his digital charge with a task list consisting of: dust the floors; prepare two rabbits for tonight's dinner. A few hours later the robot files its report: all floors have been covered with exactly 5 millimetres of dust; both rabbits were bathed, but it was necessary to borrow two small frocks from your daughter's doll set so they will be presentable at dinner.