At 08:47 AM 8/16/2002 -0400, Scott Ingram wrote: > > Steven Brust wrote: > > We have a third choice: attempting to influence, so that the changes that > > take place help to make the language more useful, flexible, and > > powerful. I don't think simplicity vs complexity is the issue--the exact > > details, and how they effect language, are the issue. > > > > >**************************************************************************** >***************** > > > > Wow, why didn't you tell me in all this time you wished to be French? >They use that sort of control over their language. <smiles sweetly> > > >"I hope" that when Steve speaks of influencing the evolution of our language >that he envisions people modifying their own language usage at home, in the >workplace, and in the streets... which is where language evolves. Well, actually, I meant what I said in an earlier post. Mostly, if I don't like a usage, I avoid it.