That is, does the loss of words restrict our choices in thinking or do we lose words because they have no more use?
What see ye the difference between these two?
I think Zed's post answers this, at least partially: I'm afraid that losing words will simplify the way we think. The first example which comes to mind is color, things used to be cerulean or teal or azure or periwinkle blue. Now they are light, dark or "sort of a medium bluey-greeny kind of colour". If we only have a generic word for it do we only see a generic colour.
Faldage, the "b" part of your question, we lose words because they have no more use, is much more common than the "a" part, I feel sure. I think we very much need to be on guard against a; although this will inevitably lead to disagreements, as exemplified by this thread. I really hate the idea of our whole society being dumbed down.
Hmm--do you-all think that our harried, hurried lifestyle contributes to this [off-the-cuff thought e]? I was looking back at Zed's example; I can envision a person needing to direct someone to their car, let's say, and simply saying, "It's the blue Nissan", without worrying about specifying azure, midnight blue, etc. Can anyone think of any other examples, or am I off the wall, here? (I may well be; I haven't had the best of days, so far.)
