Maybe I lack the proper zen, but I haven't found this to be true at all.

Here's a good bash FAQ. It contains questions like "how do I use associative arrays", with answers like "this is a complex question."

I don't even have to ask in any half-decent scripting language.

http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/

I reccommend ksh over bash. That's all I use these days. It was sh done right, although it does have a bit of history to it for compatibility.

To use associative arrays in ksh:

  typeset -A table
  column="name"
  table[$column]="value"
  echo ${table[$column]}

ksh is much more decent than bash, although I reccommend using in an emacs M-x shell buffer for better command line editing.

Edit: forgot to dereference column when setting value in table.

For reference, to use associative arrays in Bash:

  declare -A table
  column="name"
  table[$column]="value"

Included in recent versions of bash :)

I say typeset, you say declare, let's call the whole thing off! :)

Maybe you should do some lessons on this on any of the e-learning sites? I bet a lot of people would pay $25 or whatever for that.