Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:24:00 -0500 | From | Douglas Gilbert <> | Subject | Re: [PATCH] scsi_error: Fix language abuse. |
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Alan Cox wrote: > On Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:32:54 -0500 > Douglas Gilbert <dougg@torque.net> wrote: > >> Alan Cox wrote: >>> The word "illegal" has a precise dictionary meaning of "prohibited by >>> law". >> Also "contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc". > > The OED I have here doesn't seem to think so, however if the words are > the ones used in the T10 documentation then I'm happy to drop the patch.
The OED (Oxford English dictionary) seems to be at odds with most other online dictionaries with respect to the word illegal. I find the following 'illegal' entry (at www.askoxford.com) daft: "USAGE Both illegal and unlawful can mean 'contrary to or forbidden by law', but unlawful has a broader meaning 'not permitted by rules': thus handball in soccer is unlawful, but not illegal."
So if we followed the OED's advice then SCSI's "illegal request" would become "unlawful request". I'm yet to see the word "unlawful" in any technical standard ...
Doug Gilbert
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