Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Is "binary" a language?

Is "binary" a language?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
sharepointhelpquestioncareer
91 Posts 62 Posters 75 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • F firegryphon

    No doubt... Google is your friend and you know that 10,000 other people have already written one.  Work smarter not harder!

    ragnaroknrol: Yes, but comparing a rabid wolverine gnawing on your face while stabbing you with a fountain pen to Vista is likely to make the wolverine look good, so it isn't exactly that big of a compliment.

    F Offline
    F Offline
    Fabio Franco
    wrote on last edited by
    #64

    firegryphon wrote:

    10,000 other people have already written one

    Never questioned that, just never crossed any. Specially a web-based, which I don't need to install or anything and it's ASCII decoder. Luckly it was ASCII text encoding, or else it wouldn't be so easy to figure the message out.

    F 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • F Fabio Franco

      firegryphon wrote:

      10,000 other people have already written one

      Never questioned that, just never crossed any. Specially a web-based, which I don't need to install or anything and it's ASCII decoder. Luckly it was ASCII text encoding, or else it wouldn't be so easy to figure the message out.

      F Offline
      F Offline
      firegryphon
      wrote on last edited by
      #65

      No doubt.  You are a far more diligent man than I.  Go to this website though.  http://www.roubaixinteractive.com/PlayGround/Binary\_Conversion/Binary\_To\_Text.asp

      ragnaroknrol: Yes, but comparing a rabid wolverine gnawing on your face while stabbing you with a fountain pen to Vista is likely to make the wolverine look good, so it isn't exactly that big of a compliment.

      F E 2 Replies Last reply
      0
      • F firegryphon

        No doubt.  You are a far more diligent man than I.  Go to this website though.  http://www.roubaixinteractive.com/PlayGround/Binary\_Conversion/Binary\_To\_Text.asp

        ragnaroknrol: Yes, but comparing a rabid wolverine gnawing on your face while stabbing you with a fountain pen to Vista is likely to make the wolverine look good, so it isn't exactly that big of a compliment.

        F Offline
        F Offline
        Fabio Franco
        wrote on last edited by
        #66

        Oh man, where is the creativity these days....

        F 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • E Emrak123

          Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

          I Offline
          I Offline
          Ilka Guigova
          wrote on last edited by
          #67

          I would argue that Binary Code is a formal language. Based on wiki's language disambiguation[^], there is a distinction between human, natural, and artificial languages. A formal language, i.e. an artificial language - a language created for a specific purpose, is a concept used in mathematics and computer science. Thus[^], a formal language L over an alphabet Σ is a subset of Σ*, that is, a set of words over that alphabet. In computer science and mathematics, which do not usually deal with natural languages, the adjective "formal" is often omitted as redundant. While formal language theory usually concerns itself with formal languages that are described by some syntactical rules, the actual definition of the concept "formal language" is only as above: a (possibly infinite) set of finite-length strings, no more nor less. In practice, there are many languages that can be described by rules, such as regular languages or context-free languages. The notion of a formal grammar may be closer to the intuitive concept of a "language," one described by syntactic rules. By an abuse of the definition, a particular formal language is often thought of as being equipped with a formal grammar that describes it. If by binary[^] we understand binary code[^], a way of representing text or computer processor instructions by the use of the binary number system's two-binary digits 0 and 1, then we have a formal language. For another example, Braille is a type of binary code that is widely used by blind people to read and write. This system consist of 6 dot positions, three in each column. Each dot has two states, raised or not raised. Braille is a language, right? : )

          I would imagine if you could understand Morse Code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy. -- Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • F Fabio Franco

            Oh man, where is the creativity these days....

            F Offline
            F Offline
            firegryphon
            wrote on last edited by
            #68

            Obviously not with ovaltine as evidenced by the special note.

            ragnaroknrol: Yes, but comparing a rabid wolverine gnawing on your face while stabbing you with a fountain pen to Vista is likely to make the wolverine look good, so it isn't exactly that big of a compliment.

            F 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • F firegryphon

              Obviously not with ovaltine as evidenced by the special note.

              ragnaroknrol: Yes, but comparing a rabid wolverine gnawing on your face while stabbing you with a fountain pen to Vista is likely to make the wolverine look good, so it isn't exactly that big of a compliment.

              F Offline
              F Offline
              Fabio Franco
              wrote on last edited by
              #69

              Exactly

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • N NormDroid

                Binary is a base 2 number system. It is not a language and does not exhibit language charactistics, such as grammar, constructs, declarations, logic etc.

                Software Kinetics - The home of good software

                I Offline
                I Offline
                Ilka Guigova
                wrote on last edited by
                #70

                I would argue that Binary Code is a formal language. Based on wiki's language disambiguation[^], there is a distinction between human, natural, and artificial languages. A formal language, i.e. an artificial language - a language created for a specific purpose, is a concept used in mathematics and computer science. Thus[^], a formal language L over an alphabet Σ is a subset of Σ*, that is, a set of words over that alphabet. In computer science and mathematics, which do not usually deal with natural languages, the adjective "formal" is often omitted as redundant. While formal language theory usually concerns itself with formal languages that are described by some syntactical rules, the actual definition of the concept "formal language" is only as above: a (possibly infinite) set of finite-length strings, no more nor less. In practice, there are many languages that can be described by rules, such as regular languages or context-free languages. The notion of a formal grammar may be closer to the intuitive concept of a "language," one described by syntactic rules. By an abuse of the definition, a particular formal language is often thought of as being equipped with a formal grammar that describes it. If by binary[^] we understand binary code[^], a way of representing text or computer processor instructions by the use of the binary number system's two-binary digits 0 and 1, then we have a formal language. For another example, Braille is a type of binary code that is widely used by blind people to read and write. This system consist of 6 dot positions, three in each column. Each dot has two states, raised or not raised. Braille is a language, right? : )

                I would imagine if you could understand Morse Code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy. -- Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

                J K 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • E Emrak123

                  Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

                  P Offline
                  P Offline
                  PIEBALDconsult
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #71

                  Upon further thought... Perhaps the argument is really: There exists at least one language which is based on a binary alphabet. vs. There exist exactly zero languages which are based on a binary alphabet.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • F Fabio Franco

                    I can't believe I was dumb-nerd enough to write a decoder...

                    P Offline
                    P Offline
                    PerryGeek
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #72

                    I all ready had 2 programs that could decode the message, an awk script, the other a javascript, which could decode the 1st level of my unreleased geek game.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • R Rob Grainger

                      Henry Minute wrote:

                      Definitely a language

                      Well, I came down in the other camp, not a language. But if you're sure. ;-) Which definition of language are you rolling with there? Personally, I'd say any language needed more than just symbols to constitute meaning. The fact that binary can be used to convey meaning is not sufficient - just as an alphabet is not a language - the langage needs constructional forms that define valid sentences and structure. Even comparing it to an alphabet is dubious - I'd go along with the definition of "a base 2 number system" as being the best I've seen here.

                      K Offline
                      K Offline
                      Klaus Werner Konrad
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #73

                      It's definitively a language - otherwise assembly (language) wouldn't be a 'language' ... It's equal if you JNZ xxx or 68 xxx (codes not verified - just an example)

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • F firegryphon

                        No doubt.  You are a far more diligent man than I.  Go to this website though.  http://www.roubaixinteractive.com/PlayGround/Binary\_Conversion/Binary\_To\_Text.asp

                        ragnaroknrol: Yes, but comparing a rabid wolverine gnawing on your face while stabbing you with a fountain pen to Vista is likely to make the wolverine look good, so it isn't exactly that big of a compliment.

                        E Offline
                        E Offline
                        edmurphy99
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #74

                        01110100011010000110100101110011001000000110100101110011001000000110000100100000011000110110111101101111011011000010000001110011011010010111010001100101

                        F 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • E edmurphy99

                          01110100011010000110100101110011001000000110100101110011001000000110000100100000011000110110111101101111011011000010000001110011011010010111010001100101

                          F Offline
                          F Offline
                          firegryphon
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #75

                          0100010001101111011011100010011101110100001000000110110101100001011010110110010100100000011011010110010100100000011010000111010101110010011101000010000001111001011011110111010100100000011001100110111101110010001000000111000001101111011100110111010001101001011011100110011100100000011101000110100001101001011100110010111000100000001000000011101100101001

                          ragnaroknrol: Yes, but comparing a rabid wolverine gnawing on your face while stabbing you with a fountain pen to Vista is likely to make the wolverine look good, so it isn't exactly that big of a compliment.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • E Emrak123

                            Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

                            J Offline
                            J Offline
                            jschell
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #76

                            Emrak123 wrote:

                            Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language".

                            What say you? Is binary a language?

                            I say there is a problem with term definition. And the responses to this thread demonstrate that. The first step is to define "binary" and "language".

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • E Emrak123

                              Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

                              G Offline
                              G Offline
                              GlobX
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #77

                              There's only one thing that defines something as a 'language': That the person delivering/receiving it thinks/knows it is being used in order to communicate If you speak English to me, I know you're speaking English, and I can understand and respond, therefore we are using language. If you speak Russian to me, it will sound like gibberish, but I know you're using a language - we can't communicate using words alone, but I know you're using a language. If you sneeze, gargle and spit, I think/know you are not using language and you think/know you are not using a language, therefore it is not a language and various combinations of sneezing, gargling and spitting cannot communicate anything to me. If, however, an alien were to see you sneeze, gargle and spit and thought you were using it as a language in order to communicate, it becomes a language to the alien, even though to you, the deliverer, it is not being used in this way. If you are speaking binary to me, "one zero one zero zero" etc., only if I think/know you are using it in order to communicate will it become a language, otherwise it's interpreted as English gibberish. It gets even hairier because technically you're communicating English through (presumably) ASCII through binary. So, it comes down to an "Einsteinianism" (totally copyrighting that word) - "each observer is entitled to their own opinion, and each is equally correct". Or that thing they tell hideously obese women "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • E Emrak123

                                Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

                                J Offline
                                J Offline
                                James Lonero
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #78

                                Is Morse Code a language? No, its a representation of the alphabet. Is Ascii a language? No, just represents text. Put it together, it can become a language. If binary is a language, we will need to deal with big and little endian.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • I Ilka Guigova

                                  I would argue that Binary Code is a formal language. Based on wiki's language disambiguation[^], there is a distinction between human, natural, and artificial languages. A formal language, i.e. an artificial language - a language created for a specific purpose, is a concept used in mathematics and computer science. Thus[^], a formal language L over an alphabet Σ is a subset of Σ*, that is, a set of words over that alphabet. In computer science and mathematics, which do not usually deal with natural languages, the adjective "formal" is often omitted as redundant. While formal language theory usually concerns itself with formal languages that are described by some syntactical rules, the actual definition of the concept "formal language" is only as above: a (possibly infinite) set of finite-length strings, no more nor less. In practice, there are many languages that can be described by rules, such as regular languages or context-free languages. The notion of a formal grammar may be closer to the intuitive concept of a "language," one described by syntactic rules. By an abuse of the definition, a particular formal language is often thought of as being equipped with a formal grammar that describes it. If by binary[^] we understand binary code[^], a way of representing text or computer processor instructions by the use of the binary number system's two-binary digits 0 and 1, then we have a formal language. For another example, Braille is a type of binary code that is widely used by blind people to read and write. This system consist of 6 dot positions, three in each column. Each dot has two states, raised or not raised. Braille is a language, right? : )

                                  I would imagine if you could understand Morse Code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy. -- Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

                                  J Offline
                                  J Offline
                                  James Lonero
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #79

                                  You can program in binary, not as easily as assembler, not as easier as C,FORTRAN, etc. Back in the very old days, you did program you computer using binary switches.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • E Emrak123

                                    Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

                                    R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    rubika
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #80

                                    yes. From the programming side its a language,which computer understands.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • E Emrak123

                                      Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

                                      B Offline
                                      B Offline
                                      BrainiacV
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #81

                                      If in the context of opcodes, we always called it "machine code" and as such was machine language.

                                      Psychosis at 10 Film at 11

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • E Emrak123

                                        Help us settle a programmatic civil war here at my job... The first camp says "binary is NOT any kind of language". The second camp says "binary IS a kind of language". Neither camp is implying that there are teams of binary programmers out there or anything, there's just a debate on what constitutes a "language". What say you? Is binary a language? Thanks!

                                        E Offline
                                        E Offline
                                        Euhemerus
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #82

                                        For Binary to be a language, it would need to have a clearly defined syntax. Binary doesn't, therefore, it's not a language.

                                        I'm too lazy to Google it for you.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • F Fabio Franco

                                          I can't believe I was dumb-nerd enough to write a decoder...

                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          pashkevich
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #83

                                          It's nice to write a decoder, but for this quick task i've 1) merged it to long string 2) divided by groups of 8 bits 3) copy-pasted to excel 4) used to excel functions bin2dec and char, and voila! in 2 minutes. steps 1 and two i did with Textpad macro, but it for such small length it can also be done manually.

                                          F 2 Replies Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups