Belly  +  459149 Tue, 01 Jan 08 02:48 PM 1) "My country fought with the French. " Why do we have to use the here since French is a proper name? 2)Retrieval I cannot guess the meaning of its in computer science case since Oxford, Longman and other dictionary have their own definition:  Oxford:(computing) the process of getting back information that is stored on a computer: Longman:the process of getting back information stored on a computer system American Heritage: Computer Science The process of accessing information from memory or other storage devices. Meriam Webster:: the techniques of storing and recovering and often disseminating recorded data especially through the use of a computerized system Those confused me!   Belly Joined on Mon, Feb 19 2007 Regular Member 630

	Feebs11  +  459153 Tue, 01 Jan 08 03:12 PM  Belly wrote: 1) "My country fought with the French. " Why do we have to use the here since French is a proper name?  "the French [people/nation/populace]". If you said "My country fought with French," you will be saying "my country used French [the language] as a weapon". 2)Retrieval I cannot guess the meaning of its in computer science case since Oxford, Longman and other dictionary have their own definition:  Oxford:(computing) the process of getting back information that is stored on a computer: Longman:the process of getting back information stored on a computer system American Heritage: Computer Science The process of accessing information from memory or other storage devices. Meriam Webster:: the techniques of storing and recovering and often disseminating recorded data especially through the use of a computerized system Those confused me! In varying degrees of complexity in their language, they all mean the same -  you retrieve information that is stored on a digital system.   Feebs11 Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006 UK Veteran Member 5,015

	Belly  +  459191 Tue, 01 Jan 08 04:39 PM Thanks, when I read Oxford's definition, I assume that retrieval means we get the info back since it has been deleted But French also means the ppl of a country? Belly Images

	Hoa Thai  +  459194 Tue, 01 Jan 08 04:50 PM Hi, May I share my two-cent worth regarding 'retrieval'. First, what Meriam Webster talks about is database system management techniques. Its definition has a fault. For example, 'retrieval' has nothing to do with recovering process, which is designed to restore original data and database integrity when the system behaves abnormally, or crashes. Second, among the other three dictionaries, the definition of American Heritage is the best one since data is actually stored on and retrieved from storage devices. Because storage devices are part of a computer, one can imply that the data is stored on a computer or computer system. In other words, all three dictionaries talk about the same thing. 'Retrieval' or 'data retrieving process' is part of database management system (DBMS) overall process. While data storing process helps put data on a computer (system)'s storage devices, data retrieving process helps users get / read / access the data from the storage devices. Best Regards, Hoa Thai Hoa Thai Joined on Mon, Oct 15 2007 Vietnam Contributing Member 1,100 Best Regards - Hoa Thai Regards

	Verade  +  459197 Tue, 01 Jan 08 05:19 PM You might retrieve (get back) information not because it has been deleted, but because it has been stored, and you wish to work with it. Verade Joined on Mon, Dec 31 2007 Virginia USA Full Member 180 Vera-- "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." --Helen Keller

	Feebs11  +  459242 Tue, 01 Jan 08 08:00 PM  Belly wrote: Thanks, when I read Oxford's definition, I assume that retrieval means we get the info back since it has been deleted But French also means the people of a country?       "the French [people/nation/populace]" - you need the article in this context. Feebs11 Articles, Images

	Clive  +  459329 Wed, 02 Jan 08 01:21 AM Hi, A small extra comment.  "My country fought with the French. " Without context, this seems a bit ambiguous to me. Were the French my country's allies or my county's enemy? Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,585 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo