Syllable (computing)
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In computing, a syllable is a name for a platform-dependent unit of information storage. Depending on the target hardware, various bit widths (and sometimes internal groupings) are associated with it. Commonly used in the 1960s and 1970s, the term has mostly fallen into disuse in favour of terms like byte or word.
Examples:
- 8-bit syllables: English Electric KDF9 (represented as syllabic octals in this context) and Burroughs large systems (see also: Burroughs B6x00-7x00 instruction set)
- 12-bit syllables: NCR computers such as the NCR 315[1] (also called slabs in this context)[1][2][3] and Burroughs large systems
- 13-bit syllables: Saturn Launch Vehicle Digital Computer
See also
- Nibble
- Byte
- Word (computer architecture)
- Opcode
- Opstring
- Instruction syllable
- Syllable (linguistics)
References
- ^ a b Schneider, Carl (2013) [1970]. Datenverarbeitungs-Lexikon [Lexicon of information technology] (in German) (softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed.). Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH / Betriebswirtschaftlicher Verlag Dr. Th. Gabler GmbH. pp. 201, 308. doi:10.1007/978-3-663-13618-7. ISBN 978-3-409-31831-0. ISBN 3-663-13618-3 / ISBN 978-3-663-13618-7 (ebook). Retrieved 2016-05-24.
slab, Abk. aus syllable = Silbe, die kleinste adressierbare Informationseinheit für 12 bit zur Übertragung von zwei Alphazeichen oder drei numerischen Zeichen. (NCR) […] Hardware: Datenstruktur: NCR 315-100 / NCR 315-RMC; Wortlänge: Silbe; Bits: 12; Bytes: –; Dezimalziffern: 3; Zeichen: 2; Gleitkommadarstellung: fest verdrahtet; Mantisse: 4 Silben; Exponent: 1 Silbe (11 Stellen + 1 Vorzeichen) [slab, abbr. for syllable = syllable, smallest addressable information unit for 12 bits for the transfer of two alphabetical characters or three numerical characters. (NCR) […] Hardware: Data structure: NCR 315-100 / NCR 315-RMC; Word length: Syllable; Bits: 12; Bytes: –; Decimal digits: 3; Characters: 2; Floating point format: hard-wired; Significand: 4 syllables; Exponent: 1 syllable (11 digits + 1 prefix)]
- ^ "315 Electronic Data Processing System" (PDF). NCR. November 1965. NCR MPN ST-5008-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Bardin, Hillel (1963). "NCR 315 Seminar" (PDF). Computer Usage Communique. 2 (3). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-24.
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