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Language is defined in a number of ways--pretty much any method of sharing information and ideas is considered a language.
tempus edax rerum
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old hand
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old hand
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any method of sharing information and ideas is considered a language - agreed, as far as it goes. But even in this generalized sense, language makes use of elements based on convention, i.e. "words". Philosophers disagree on the question whether in one's mind, these words are also the primary elements of thought , or if thinking happens before they enter into play.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Next step.Thinking about thought.
(This wasn't me)
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old hand
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old hand
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Not quite thinking about thinking, rather thinking about what we think we know.
epistemology:
noun
the philosophical theory of knowledge
from Gk. episteme "knowledge," from Ionic Gk. epistasthai "know how to do, understand," lit. "overstand," from epi- "over, near" + histasthai "to stand."
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veteran
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veteran
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Language is defined in a number of ways--pretty much any method of sharing information and ideas is considered a language. Wrongo, Maven. Lovers can share the percieved beauty of a afternoon sunset but indepedantly percieve the beauty of that setting sun. "Language" as a term is rightly restricted to the symbolic transfer of sensory information between two biological entities of which you are one.
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old hand
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old hand
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the symbolic transfer of sensory information between two biological entities. I like that one.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Philosophers disagree on the question whether in one's mind, these words are also the primary elements of thought , or if thinking happens before they enter into play. The most creative part of thinking lies there where it has not yet reached the stage of words, language. What people refer to as "daydreaming" is no dreaming at all. It's thinking. Before thinking takes form. Eventuallly it becomes 'words', a concious thought, idea, plan or action. Fit to be shared or worked out or not. ( If you want to help me stay off this board , please do not come with such an interesting subject. :=)keep it dull.)
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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music? Ooh, excellent! But I'm not sure it can go far enough, though. How might you ask, say, whether someone is hungry, or, what time is it, or, see that biggest dead tree--there's a red-tailed hawk on the fourth branch down? (If you want to help me stay off this board , please do not come with such an interesting subject. :=)) Heh (hi again, eta) -- I had hoped my query would spark a good discussion; it's not my fault if you're peeking when you're not supposed to! 
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old hand
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old hand
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But I'm not sure it can go far enough, - important point, and pertinent examples! George Steiner, in After Babel , went as far as hypothesising that language emerged when people felt a need to communicate something that isn't there , i.e. telling a lie, expressing a conditional, or commenting about possible futures..
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