Here is the definition of call-by-value from the "Revised Report on the Algorithmic Language Algol 60" <http://www.masswerk.at/algol60/report.htm>:
4.7.3.1. Value assignment (call by value). All formal parameters quoted in the value part of the procedure declaration heading are assigned the values (cf. section 2.8. Values and types) of the corresponding actual parameters, these assignments being considers as being performed explicitly before entering the procedure body. The effect is as though an additional block embracing the procedure body were created in which these assignments were made to variables local to this fictitious block with types as given in the corresponding specifications (cf. section 5.4.5).
There you have it -- call by value is offially defined in terms of assignment. There is no mention in there of copying. So it's perfectly correct to use it in relation to Python. -- Greg -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
