Awk does not support local variables. However, to simulate local variables you can add extra function parameters. I would guess that the backslash is inserted t

Awk does not support local variables. However, to simulate local variables you can add extra function parameters. I would guess that the backslash is inserted to separate the "real" parameters from the "local variable" parameters to make the code more readable. In your example, when the function `scope' is called only one actual parameter would be provided.