type or identifier fundamental parsing issue - Need help from parsing experts

Greetings All,


I am dealing with a programming langauge that supports something like
sizeof(<typename>) as well as sizeof(<variable-name>) expression.


For parsing such a construct, one would need a parser/yacc rule somewhat like
the following:


SIZEOF_KEYWORD '(' IDENTIFIER ')'


The fundamemtal problem in the rules of the language (that I am dealing with)
is that its lookup/resolution rule *doesn't* allow me to check in symbol table
if that 'IDENTIFIER' is a type or non-type variable. Problem is, this language
supports certain constructs which can potentially/later make such early
lookup/resolution decisions wrong. In short, name resolutions in this langauge
(as per the langauge definition) can only be initiated after the entire source
code has been completely parsed/seen.


Given this restriction, I will probably have to delay/defer the decision of,
whether we saw a 'type' or a non-type variable (with the 'sizeof' operator) to
"semantic check phase".


On the other hand, some people/experts believe that such decisions of whether
something is a type or non-type idernfier has to be frozen/finished during
parsing and *SHOULD NOT* be deferred/delayed to 'semantic check phase'.


I am not an expert compiler researcher/scientist, so am seeking some opinion
here, if you happen to have a sound knowledge on this issue.


Many thanks.


Regards,
AD

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