[Python-Dev] Arbitrary non-identifier string keys when using **kwargs

While keyword arguments have to be identifiers, using **kwargs allows arbitrary strings which aren't identifiers: py> def spam(**kwargs): ... print(kwargs) ... py> spam(**{"something arbitrary": 1, '\n': 2}) {'something arbitrary': 1, '\n': 2} There is some discussion on Python-Ideas on whether or not that behaviour ought to be considered a language feature, an accident of implementation, or a bug. Can we get some guidence on this please? Thanks, -- Steve