ers [do|don’t] (help) [prevent|detect] problems.” Throughout his career, Damian Synadinos has encountered many variations of this phrase, which uses just a few small words to express many big ideas. It is important to understand what each word means individually to better understand the ideas they convey collectively. The study of the meaning in words is semantics. Damian begins with a brief and broad overview of semantics and some related ideas, which set the stage for deep analysis of each individual word and its potential meaning. We consider: Testers—What might this word mean in different contexts? Do|Don’t—How are normative and descriptive statements involved? Help—How does the inclusion or exclusion of this word affect the meaning of the phrase? Prevent|Detect—What do causality and perspective have to do with the word we choose? Problems—What exactly is the thing that is being prevented or detected? Damian demystifies and promotes semantics, and introduces critical concepts that have practical impacts on testers, their roles, and their responsibilities.
5. So what?
•A primer on semantics
•A better understanding of the
individual words and their
collective meaning
•New and practical insight into a
tester's role and responsibilities
“It’s just semantics!“
•It’s only a difference of words!
•It’s merely a minor difference!
•It’s a fundamental difference!
•Shut up! This conversation is over.
6. Definitions
•Semantics (n.)
• The meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text.
•Definition (n.)
• A statement of the exact meaning of a word.
•Meaning (n.)
• What is meant by a word, text, concept, or action.
•It’s only a difference of words!
•It’s merely a minor difference!
•It’s a fundamental difference!
•Shut up! This conversation is over.
•It’s just definitions!
•It’s just meaning!
“It’s just semantics!“
9. Disputed Words
•fewer / less
• Fewer people have less patience for discussing
semantics.
•expect / anticipate
• She anticipated a difficult test…so she studied hard.
• She expected a high grade…because she studied hard.
•done / finished / complete
•best practice
“Best“ Practice
Stella is my
best friend and
Avery is my
best friend!
Stella is my
really good friend and
Avery is my
really good friend!
10. “Best“ Practice
• Best (n.)
• that which is the most
excellent, outstanding,
or desirable.
• “Best practice“
• Literally…in some
specific context
• Figuratively…as
hyperbole
Disputed Words
•fewer / less
• Fewer people have less patience for discussing
semantics.
•expect / anticipate
• She anticipated a difficult test so she studied hard.
• She expected a high grade because she studied hard.
•done / finished / complete
•best practice
11. Distinction w/o a difference
An artificially created
distinction where no real
distinction exists.
That’s not a
knife. That’s
a knife!
If there is no “real“
difference, what is the
purpose of the distinction?
Neologism
•A newly coined word or
expression.
•unbirthday
•noob, truthiness, neuroplasticity
•google, spam, cloud
12. Strange Creatures
Tardigrade
(Water bear, Moss piglet)
Water-dwelling, eight-legged, segmented
micro-animals (about 0..5 mm when fully
grown). Among the most resilient animals
known. Can survive extreme
temperatures, radiation, pressure, and
the vacuum of space.
Geoduck
Species of very large, saltwater clam
(mollusk). Native to the west coast of
North America. Shell ranges from 15-20
cm. Has long “neck“ or siphon that
extends from the shell. Burrows deep in
sand and shoots spouts of water at
random intervals. Often bred and eaten.
• The map is not the territory.
• The menu is not the meal.
• The model is not the thing being modeled.
• The Test Plan is not the plan for testing.
The name is not the thing
“What's in a name? That
which we call a rose by any
other name would smell as
sweet.“ -Juliet
Phlegm Flower
Stink Blossom
Rose
14. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Problem (n.)
• A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or
harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.
• A difference between things as desired and things as
perceived. (Weinberg)
• Bug (n.)
• An error in a computer program or system.
• Anything about the product that threatens its value. (RST)
• Anything that bugs someone. (Pettichord)
• Defect (n.)
• A shortcoming, imperfection, or lack.
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Issue
• Failure
• Glitch
• Error
• Exception
• Fault
• Flaw
• Incident
• Mistake
• Deficiency
• Goof
• Slip-up
• Blunder
• Oversight
• No-no
• Boo-boo
15. Relative Rule: For any abstract X, X is X to some one
at some time.
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
Relative Rule: Describes the relationship between
someone (who) and something (what) at sometime (when).
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
16. Relative Rule: Describes the relationship between
someone (who) and something (what) at sometime (when).
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
So what?
•What we call “problems“ might
matter.
•Remember that “problems“ are
relative (subjective).
17. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Prevent (v.)
• Keep something from happening or arising
• Detect (v.)
• Discover or identify the presence or existence of
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• New fiber-based sensor could detect structural
problems in bridges and dams
• Police detect meth shipment from Mexico
• Can AI detect fake news?
• Facebook hires 3,000 people to prevent videos of
crime & suicide from spreading online
• New technology designed to prevent shark attacks
• Government providing resources to prevent rabies
outbreak
18. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
Causality: The relationship between cause and effect.
Causality: The relationship between cause and effect.
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
19. Causality: The relationship between cause and effect.
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
So what?
•Potential effects of word choice.
•Perspective matters.
20. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Help (v.)
• Make it easier for (someone) to do something by
offering one's services or resources.
• Improve (a situation or problem); be of benefit to.
• Help Prevent (Keep something from
happening or arising)
• Help Detect (Discover or identify the
presence or existence of)
Help Detect: Discover or identify the presence or
existence of
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
21. Help Prevent: Keep something from happening or arising
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
So what?
• Inclusion or exclusion of the word “help“
might change the meaning of the phrase.
• Consider the specific problem, and if
detection or prevention of the problem
can be done alone or if it requires
assistance.
22. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Helping verbs
• Help the main verb in a sentence by extending
meaning; Can situate the action of a sentence in a
particular time; Can further modify the action or
meaning of the main verb.
• Modal verbs
• can/could – ability, possibility
• may/might – permission, possibility
• will/would – request, consequence
• must – necessity, requirement
• shall/should – obligation, correctness, suggestion
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Testers [can] (help) [[prevent | detect]] problems
• Testers [may] (help) [[prevent | detect]] problems
• Testers [will] (help) [[prevent | detect]] problems
• Testers [must] (help) [prevent | detect]] problems
• Testers [should] (help) [[prevent | detect]] problems
23. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Descriptive statements
• Makes an assertion of based on empirical evidence.
• Facts
• Normative statements
• Expresses a value judgement.
• Opinions
Descriptive is an eleven letter word.
Normative is a better word.
So what?
•Identify the helping verb used
(or omitted) to better
understand what might actually
be meant.
•Consider if it is a statement of
fact or opinion.
24. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Testing (n.)
• The process of evaluating a product by learning
about it through exploration and experimentation,
which includes to some degree: questioning, study,
modeling, observation, inference, etc. (RST)
• An investigation conducted to provide stakeholders
with information about the quality of the product
or service under test. (Kaner)
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
• Testing (n.)
• The process of evaluating a product by learning
about it through exploration and experimentation,
which includes to some degree: questioning, study,
modeling, observation, inference, etc. …
to provide stakeholders with information about the
quality of the product or service under test.
• Tester (n.)
• One who performs testing.
25. Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
So what?
•The definition of “testing“ might
change the meaning of the phrase.
26. •Testers detect defects
•Testers don’t prevent problems
•Testers must help detect bugs
•Testers should help prevent bugs
•Testers can detect failures
•Testers can’t help prevent issues
Testers [do | don’t] (help)
[prevent | detect] problems
Summary
• Testers
• Understand the definition of “tester“ (their role and responsibility) to better
understand the meaning of the phrase.
• do | don’t
• Identify the helping verb used and consider if it is a statement of fact or
opinion.
• (help)
• Consider how the inclusion/exclusion of this word affects the meaning of the
phrase.
• prevent | detect
• Consider the word choice and point of view.
• problems
• Remember that problems (by any other name) are subjective.
