Caliann the Elf writes:
> 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.
No -- the French government attempts to use that sort of control over
the French language.
By contrast, -all- of us use the kind of influence Steve is describing
with our language -- and about everything else we are participatory
in creating; simply by what words we chose to create, learn, adapt, use, and
ignore.
<clashes silver bracelets together, reminiscent of a certain
Janet Kagan novel that everyone should read>
--
Joshua Kronengold (mneme at io.com) "I've been teaching |\ _,,,--,,_ ,)
--^--him...to live, to breathe, to walk, to sample the /,`.-'`' -, ;-;;'
/\\joy on each road, and the sorrow at each turning. |,4- ) )-,_ ) /\
/-\\\I'm sorry if I kept him out too late"--Vlad Taltos '---''(_/--' (_/-'