Love is … a freaking wall of text

* * * * *

Love is … a freaking wall of text

And so I implemented my idea [1] in about all of an hour. The code itself is
pretty straightforward:

-----[ Lua ]-----
require "org.conman.math".randomseed()

local fixcase = Cs(
(R"az" / function(c) return c:upper() end + P(1))
* P(1)^0
)

local function lookup(term)
local list

if dict[term] then
list = dict[term]
else
local l = fixcase:match(term)
if dict[l] then
list = dict[l]
else
return term
end
end

return list[math.random(#list)]
end

local word = R("''","--","AZ","az")^1
local term = word / lookup
+ P(1)
local corpus = Cs(term^1)

local count = Cf(
Cc(0) * (word * Cc(1) + P(1) * Cc(0))^1,
function(acc,count)
return acc + count
end
)

local text = "Love"
local num
local loop = 0

repeat
loop = loop + 1
text = corpus:match(text)
num = count:match(text)
until num >= 50000

print(string.format([[

Love is ...

A Definitional Novel
in %d expansions and %d words

]],loop,num))

print(wrap(text))
-----[ END OF LINE ]-----

The first line initializes the random number generator, then an LPeg [2]
expression to uppercase the leading character of a word (that's how most of
the terms in the dictionary I used appear). Then we have a function that
returns either a random defintion of a given term, or if no definition
exists, the term itself. Next is the definition of a “word” with the
expression word—one or more letters, dashes or apostrophes. The next
expression, term, either finds a “word” and does the definition lookup via
lookup() or just whatever non-word text it finds (punctuation marks mostly).
The expression corpus will run term multiple times, replacing the input with
the translated output (this is a “substitution capture [3] as it's called in
LPeg).

The count expression just counts words—it's a folding capture [4] which
accumulates a single result. In this case, we start with 0 (Cc(0) [5]), then
for each “word” in the input it returns a 1; otherwise a 0 (word * Cc(1) +
P(1) * Cc(0)), which is added to our accumulator using the given anonymous
function.

Then it's a matter of starting with “Love” and running this a few times until
we get over 50,000 words.

What I didn't expect (but should have) is the “Wall Of Text” that is
generated:

> To denote having as a possession or an appendage; as, the firmament with
> its stars; a bride with a large fortune. One of whom inquires can be made
> as to the integrity, capacity, and the like, of another. Apposition;
> connection; antithesis; opposition; as, they engaged hand to hand. a That
> which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or confines; the bound, border,
> or edge; the utmost extent; as, the limit of a walk, of a town, of a
> country; the limits of human knowledge or endeavor. Denoting nearness or
> distance, either in space or time; from; as, within a league of the town;
> within an hour of the appointed time. The period at which any definite
> event occurred, or person lived; age; period; era; as, the Spanish Armada
> was destroyed in the time of Queen Elizabeth; – often in the plural; as,
> ancient times; modern times.; as, With privilege or possession; – used to
> denote a holding, possession, or seisin; as, in by descent; in by purchase;
> in of the seisin of her husband. an A measure of distance traveled.; As a
> substance for any noun of the neuter gender; as, here is the book, take it
> home. happened One who is in office; – the opposite of out. See Thee. A
> wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are
> formed. A division of the Roman people formed according to their property,
> for the purpose of voting for civil officers.; To inclose; to take in; to
> harvest. all Of or belonging to me; – used always attributively; as, my
> body; my book; – mine is used in the predicate; as, the book is mine. See
> Mine. The potential principle, or force, by which the organs of animals and
> plants are started and continued in the performance of their several and
> cooperative functions; the vital force, whether regarded as physical or
> spiritual‥ A Freely; licentiously. Yellow or gold color, – represented in
> drawing or engraving by small dots. Worthy of consideration; requiring to
> be observed, borne in mind, or attended to. A numeral; a word or character
> denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door‥ phrases, and To denote a
> connection of friendship, support, alliance, assistance, countenance, etc.;
> hence, on the side of. That which refers to something; a specific direction
> of the attention; as, a reference in a text-book. Extent; limit; degree of
> comprehension; inclusion as far as; as, they met us to the number of three
> hundred. a The space or thing defined by limits. Denoting the agent, or
> person by whom, or thing by which, anything is, or is done; by. To measure,
> as in music or harmony.; as, With reference to circumstances or conditions;
> as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light. an Fixed or
> appointed time; conjuncture; a particular time or occasion; as, the hour of
> greatest peril; the man for the hour.; As a substitute for such general
> terms as, the state of affairs, the condition of things, and the like; as,
> how is it with the sick man? happened With reference to circumstances or
> conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light. A
> word placed before nouns to limit or individualize their meaning. A wooden
> block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. A
> division of the Roman people formed according to their property, for the
> purpose of voting for civil officers.; The specific signification of in is
> situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment,
> etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within
> limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as
> limiting, confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its
> different applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and
> sometimes is interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among. all
> Of or belonging to me; – used always attributively; as, my body; my book; –
> mine is used in the predicate; as, the book is mine. See Mine.
> Figuratively: The potential or animating principle, also, the period of
> duration, of anything that is conceived of as resembling a natural organism
> in structure or functions; as, the life of a state, a machine, or a book;
> authority is the life of government‥ (usually Relating to, or containing,
> more than one; designating two or more; as, a plural word.) an acquaintance
> Ere; before; sooner than. acquaintances Originally, an interrogative
> pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; – used always substantively, and
> either as singular or plural. See the Note under What, pron., 1. As
> interrogative …
>

“Love is … [6]”

and so on for another 12,856 lines.

A literal “Wall Of Text.”

It also overshot the 50,000 words by 120,007 words. Yes, there are a total of
170,007 words (minus the title) in this “novel.” And what was totally
surprising to me is the number of times through the expansion loop—only four.

From “Love” to “To denote having as a possession or an appendage; as, the
firmament …” in four steps.

I found the “ending” to be somewhat amusing:

> … Denoting identity or equivalence; – used with a name or appellation, and
> equivalent to the relation of apposition; as, the continent of America; the
> city of Rome; the Island of Cuba. To work, as raw or partly wrought
> materials, into suitable forms for use; as, to manufacture wool, cotton,
> silk, or iron… adventures.
>

“Love is … [7]”

Apparantly, love contains tourist hotspots, industrial production and
adventures. Who knew?

[1] gopher://gopher.conman.org/0Phlog:2017/11/05.3
[2] http://www.inf.puc-/
[3] http://www.inf.puc-rio.br/~roberto/lpeg/lpeg.html#cap-
[4] http://www.inf.puc-rio.br/~roberto/lpeg/lpeg.html#cap-
[5] http://www.inf.puc-/
[6] https://github.com/spc476/NaNoGenMo-2017/blob/master/love-is.txt
[7] https://github.com/spc476/NaNoGenMo-2017/blob/master/love-is.txt

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