&gt; (overloading functions) ... comes at a high cost in terms of ... runtime reflection in dynamic languages like Perl, Python or JavaScript<p>In Perl 6 function overloading is generally resolved at compile-time.<p>&gt; Explicit is better than implicit or inexplicit.<p>Explicit what?<p>(jk)<p>&gt; What is so important about the scalar&#x2F;array dichotomy<p>See my earlier reply to another of your comments.<p>&gt; context sensitive punctuation you have to look up in a legend?<p>Sigils are not context sensitive.<p>&gt; The root of the sigil problem is that you quickly run out of unused ASCII punctuation characters to decorate all the concepts you feel the need to distinguish.<p>The distinction corresponds to major distinctions known to be wired in to human brains: single vs plural, and number vs name.<p>If this seems arbitrary to you perhaps you lack self awareness?<p>(jk)