If signals had zero possibility of error (i.e. no one ever falsely signaled), I suppose the word “prove” would be an appropriate replacement for “signal” (actual meaning). If it’s non-zero, I guess “strongly support” or some close one-word equivalent could work. Is it better to rescue “signal” and find a substitute for the false meaning of signal, or to find a substitute for the true meaning of signal and let the word “signal” be used falsely?
We got the word signal from its technical meaning in economics and evolutionary biology. We should strongly avoid giving standard technical words non-standard meanings, or using a non-standard word where a standard one exists.
If signals had zero possibility of error (i.e. no one ever falsely signaled), I suppose the word “prove” would be an appropriate replacement for “signal” (actual meaning). If it’s non-zero, I guess “strongly support” or some close one-word equivalent could work. Is it better to rescue “signal” and find a substitute for the false meaning of signal, or to find a substitute for the true meaning of signal and let the word “signal” be used falsely?
We got the word signal from its technical meaning in economics and evolutionary biology. We should strongly avoid giving standard technical words non-standard meanings, or using a non-standard word where a standard one exists.