today at 4:27 AM
‘Else’ is not commonly used in English today but the meaning does fit. From Webster’s (1913):
Else, adverb or conjunction
1. Besides; except that mentioned; in addition; as, nowhere else; no one else.
2. Otherwise; in the other, or the contrary, case; if the facts were different.
“For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it.” – Ps. li. 16.
After ‘or’, else is sometimes used expletively, as simply noting an alternative. “Will you give thanks, … or else shall I?” – Shak.
today at 5:26 AM
You can also say "elsewise", which to me still sounds a little old school, but more natural than just using "else" like we do in programming languages.
It's almost tempting to reach for "elsewhen" or "elsewhy", since we have "elsewhere". But if saying "elsewise" feels like chatting with a very elderly relative, saying those ones feels more like a seance with distant ancestors. But apparently it used to be a thing!
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/elsewho#English
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/elsewhither#English
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/elsewhence#English
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/elsehow#English
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/elsewards#English
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/elsewhat#English
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/otherwhat#English
today at 5:18 AM
Else can be found in English text prior to computer existence. Else can't be found in a German dictionary as a conjunction [1]. The first suggestion in Duden is the name for alder tree in lower German. Second suggestion is a firstname. If a word would come from German, it seems the first step would be to look up in a German dictionary.
While the look up for history of computer language is interesting, the conclusion is completely wrong.
[1] https://www.duden.de/suchen/dudenonline/Else
today at 5:26 AM
I don't think the article author is concluding what you think they are.
The HN title reads "literal translation," which I didn't take to mean "literally".
The linked article doesn't really have a title. The article author states [...] "I think a carefully-chosen German word was probably translated as an archaic English word and then never revisited. Unfortunately we do not have the original German text to consult."
today at 4:03 AM
The modern universal keywords if, else, for and while are good because they are fairly short and thus quick to type.
today at 5:19 AM
I'm writing some Crystal (which has Ruby-like syntax) and I'd add `unless` to the list. I like it!
today at 4:39 AM
Yes, otherwise is more natural but less terse.
today at 4:52 AM
"or else" works too but that's still three extra characters
today at 3:42 AM
> I can't use "else" as a conjunction in normal speech, only in computer programs.
sure you can. who's going to stop you?
today at 4:20 AM
Hurry up, else we'll be late. You'd better leave now, else you'll miss the bus. Do what I say, else there'll be trouble.
today at 4:09 AM
someone else ;-)
today at 4:57 AM
Perhaps after the robot uprising... https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/the-program
today at 4:20 AM
Don’t even get me started on “elif”
today at 4:58 AM
I like elif. It means exactly what I want it to mean!
today at 4:07 AM
it was probably a rote translation of the German word ‘sonst’
today at 5:23 AM
[delayed]
today at 3:53 AM
If something were to be true, then foo.
Or if this other thing were to be true, then bar.
If it’s something else, then baz.
today at 5:13 AM
OR if is ambiguous, and wouldn't work like an 'else if' statement. I think you mean XOR.
today at 4:36 AM
today at 4:09 AM
No. English has used else to mean "otherwise" since before computers came along. Wiktionary offers this quote from Call of the Wild (1903):
"He had never seen dogs fight as these wolfish creatures fought, and his first experience taught him an unforgetable lesson. It is true, it was a vicarious experience, else he would not have lived to profit by it."
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/else#Conjunction
There's also "or else", as made famous in crime dramas: "Meet me by the docks at midnight. Bring the money. Come alone. No cops... or else!" But in other usage it can of course be followed by something. "He had to get to work on time, or else he might be fired."
today at 4:51 AM
"or else" is right in the second image, and it's clearly not "else".
Even if it hasn't been invented as the author claims, the question of who used it in code first is a valid one, right?
today at 5:04 AM
[dead]
today at 4:09 AM
Article states else is archiac English but later says someone called it ignorantly incorrect English and suggested using "or".
Ive always assumed it was effectively "otherwise" but shortened to "or else" -> "else".
Given the alternative to use "or" as the first pushback I feel that acts as confirmation. I prefer else because "or" has implications in boolean and bitwise logic that else doesn't.
today at 4:34 AM
what
today at 3:48 AM
If ... then ... otherwise ...
Fixed!
today at 4:14 AM
if ... then ... neht ... fi
today at 4:24 AM
[dead]
today at 4:08 AM
> I can't use "else" as a conjunction in normal speech, only in computer programs.
Not true. Here's an example from 1876 in which "else" is used as a conjunction.
> My brother is poor, and I want to look as much like him as I can, else he may feel distant from me.
-- George Eliot ( https://www.victorianlondon.org/etexts/eliot/deronda-0047.sh... )
---
Here's an example of "if ... else" from the 1914 translation of Crime and Punishment ( https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Crime_and_Punishment/Part_IV/... ):
> Perhaps it will all come back, but now if you love me, give me up . . . else I shall begin to hate you, I feel it.
today at 5:11 AM
1611 Psalm 51:16 (KJV) uses else as a conjunction as well.
today at 3:38 AM
The English language origin is from programming if/then/else
today at 4:28 AM
Very not true.
today at 5:25 AM
What if time travel was involved?