The Linguistics of Object-Oriented Design: Implications for Teaching

摘要

This paper describes object-oriented (OO) design as a complex linguistic activity. Emphasis is made on the distinction between natural and artificial languages and its implication on the alleged naturalness of OO design. The difference between top-down and bottom-up approaches to system design is considered as a further aspect of great importance, which needs attention in teaching. Based on results from a large empirical research work, brief examples of student performance are offered as background for a more extensive discussion of implications for teaching.