Questions

Question

1) "My country fought with the French. "

Why do we have to use the here since French is a proper name?

2)Retrieval

I cannot guess the meaning of its in computer science case since Oxford, Longman and other dictionary have their own definition:

Oxford:(computing) the process of getting back information that is stored on a computer:

Longman:the process of getting back information stored on a computer system

American Heritage: Computer Science The process of accessing information from memory or other storage devices.

Meriam Webster:: the techniques of storing and recovering and often disseminating recorded data especially through the use of a computerized system

Those confused me!

Feebs11 · Accepted Answer

Belly1) "My country fought with the French. "

Why do we have to use the here since French is a proper name? "the French [people/nation/populace]".
If you said "My country fought with French," you will be saying "my country used French [the language] as a weapon".
2)Retrieval

I cannot guess the meaning of its in computer science case since Oxford, Longman and other dictionary have their own definition:

Oxford:(computing) the process of getting back information that is stored on a computer:
Longman:the process of getting back information stored on a computer system

American Heritage: Computer Science The process of accessing information from memory or other storage devices.

Meriam Webster:: the techniques of storing and recovering and often disseminating recorded data especially through the use of a computerized system

Those confused me!

In varying degrees of complexity in their language, they all mean the same - you retrieve information that is stored on a digital system.

Belly · Answer

Thanks, when I read Oxford's definition, I assume that retrieval means we get the info back since it has been deleted

But French also means the ppl of a country?

Anonymous · Answer

Belly2)Retrieval

I cannot guess the meaning of its in computer science case since Oxford, Longman and other dictionary have their own definition:

Oxford:(computing) the process of getting back information that is stored on a computer:
Longman:the process of getting back information stored on a computer system

American Heritage: Computer Science The process of accessing information from memory or other storage devices.

Meriam Webster:: the techniques of storing and recovering and often disseminating recorded data especially through the use of a computerized system

Those confused me!

Hi,

May I share my two-cent worth regarding 'retrieval'.

First, what Meriam Webster talks about is database system management techniques. Its definition has a fault. For example, 'retrieval' has nothing to do with recovering process, which is designed to restore original data and database integrity when the system behaves abnormally, or crashes.

Second, among the other three dictionaries, the definition of American Heritage is the best one since data is actually stored on and retrieved from storage devices. Because storage devices are part of a computer, one can imply that the data is stored on a computer or computer system. In other words, all three dictionaries talk about the same thing.

'Retrieval' or 'data retrieving process' is part of database management system (DBMS) overall process. While data storing process helps put data on a computer (system)'s storage devices, data retrieving process helps users get / read / access the data from the storage devices.

Best Regards,
Hoa Thai

Hoa Thai · Answer

Hi,

May I share my two-cent worth regarding 'retrieval'.

First, what Meriam Webster talks about is database system management techniques. Its definition has a fault. For example, 'retrieval' has nothing to do with recovering process, which is designed to restore original data and database integrity when the system behaves abnormally, or crashes.

Second, among the other three dictionaries, the definition of American Heritage is the best one since data is actually stored on and retrieved from storage devices. Because storage devices are part of a computer, one can imply that the data is stored on a computer or computer system. In other words, all three dictionaries talk about the same thing.

'Retrieval' or 'data retrieving process' is part of database management system (DBMS) overall process. While data storing process helps put data on a computer (system)'s storage devices, data retrieving process helps users get / read / access the data from the storage devices.

Best Regards,
Hoa Thai

Verade · Answer

You might retrieve (get back) information not because it has been deleted, but because it has been stored, and you wish to work with it.

Feebs11 · Answer

BellyThanks, when I read Oxford's definition, I assume that retrieval means we get the info back since it has been deleted

(missing image) But French also means the people of a country?

"the French [people/nation/populace]" - you need the article in this context.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

A small extra comment.

"My country fought with the French. "

Without context, this seems a bit ambiguous to me. Were the French my country's allies or my county's enemy?

Clive

Questions

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions