title: python character set conversion by the compiler
body: <pre><code>C:\c&gt;python -m pydoc wordspyth^A.split
  </code></pre>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>no python documentation found for 'wordspyth\x01.split'</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I understand that python documentation doesn't exist, but why does <code>^A</code> convert to <code>\x01</code>?</p>