...colon is used to mark the indirect object...colon is used to mark the adverb...How is this apparent ambiguity resolved?
Ambiguity
Is a pebble on the road
To enlightenment.
There is no "adverb",
Nor an indirect object,
Nor direct objects.
There's only colon --
With arguments before it
And others after.
What we call those args --
"Indirect", "adverb", "direct" --
Is pure convention.
It's up to each sub
To decide how arguments
Are interpreted.
print may choose to treat
Pre-colon as filehandle,
Post-colon as list.
On the other hand,
sum might choose: Pre-colon -- list,
Post-colon -- adverb.
It's like the story
Of two monks and Hui-neng
Discussing a flag:
"The flag is moving?"
"Or is it the wind moving?"
"It's your mind that moves!"
Now we have the tale
Of Chipmunk-san and Con Wei
Discussing colons:
"Colons mean 'adverb'?"
"Colons mean 'indirectly'?"
"Colons mean...colon!"
It's how you use them
In your sub that determines
What purpose they serve.
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