Higher-Order Functions: What Are Their Analogues In Human Grammar?

@raganwald epic hand-waving:

Get ready for some epic hand-waving. I'm reading Reg Braithwaite aka Raganwald's new book JavaScript Allongé , and -- because it's a Leanpub book and therefore to some extent a work in progress -- subjecting it to some pretty merciless copyedits as I go. JavaScript Allongé explores JavaScript in detail, from the perspective of a Lisper with a console and a curious mind. I don't think the book contains a word about either concurrency or the DOM. Instead, it pokes its way through JavaScript itself, taking things apart to see how they work, like a curious gnome enjoying a leisurely stroll through a giant machine. Or like Donald Duck In Mathmagic Land , but with a strong emphasis on higher-order functions. From the book's blurb: JavaScript Allongé emphasizes functions as first-class values, and topics built on functions such as objects, prototypes, "classes," combinators, meth...

Full article: http://gilesbowkett.blogspot.com/2013/01/higher-order-fun...