Smalltalk

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Smalltalk

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From small talk; according to Alan Kay (one of its creators):^[1]

The name actually appeared before the first Smalltalk design, which was done in 1971. I had mentioned to someone that the "prose" of then current programming languages was lower than a cocktail party conversation, and that great progress would have been made if we could even get to the level of making "smalltalk". It then occured^[sic] to me that this word was also a great pun for a language aimed at the world of small children.

As for hype: Another motive for "smalltalk" was the practice at the time of naming operating, and other, systems (which hardly did anything) after mighty indo-european gods, such as Thor, Zeus, Odin, etc. I figured that if Smalltalk ever did something neat, then people would be pleasantly surprised.

Smalltalk

1. (computer languages) An object-oriented, dynamically-typed, reflective programming language.

• Smalltalker

• Small Talk

Borrowed from English small talk.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsmɔːlˌtɔːk/, /ˈsmɔlˌtoːk/

• Audio:

  (file)

Smalltalk m or (rare) n (strong, genitive Smalltalks, plural Smalltalks)

1. small talk

   Synonym: Plauderei

2. a conversation involving small talk

   Synonym: Plauderei

• Generally masculine; the neuter is very rare.

• “Smalltalk” in Duden online
• “Smalltalk” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache