Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 4 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Faldage #168756 06/18/07 01:15 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
T
veteran
Offline
veteran
T
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
Originally Posted By: Faldage


The implicit conclusion here is that without language we are all alone, but the unwarranted assumption is that language is the only vehicle for communication.

Then there are some linguists who feel that one of the more important functions of language is to lie.


Yeeeah buddy; and some linguists play fun and games with blow-up dolls.

What, you believe what a man says when he has already said that a prime function of language is to lie?

And yes, I saw the news article with that silly construction somewhere on the net, but found it beyond amusement.

zmjezhd #168780 06/20/07 09:48 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
Any pointers? I'd like to read some of them.
. In the chapter "Word against Object" of his book "After Babel", George Steiner has the key phrase: Language is the main instrument of man's refusal to accept the world as it is , and argues at length for the importance of the counter-factual in Language.

wsieber #168781 06/20/07 10:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Thank you, Weis Bier. I'd've hated to have to have taken Nuncle on a tour of the morass that is my Junk Drawer Memory®.

wsieber #168785 06/20/07 02:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
In the chapter "Word against Object" of his book "After Babel", George Steiner

Thank you very much. I must reread After Babel. It's been simply too many decades.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
zmjezhd #168789 06/20/07 04:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 120
member
Offline
member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 120
The social lie is a critical aspect of society. If you don't think so, try being completely honest with your co-workers. The problem is assuming that communication is based on something infallible--and since it's all based on human constructs, perfection is unrealistic.


tempus edax rerum
Maven #168790 06/20/07 07:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
try being completely honest with your co-workers - no problem, as long as you limit yourself to the sympathetic co-workers :). And sympathy is something that can be expressed without much in the way of words.

themilum #168791 06/21/07 02:00 AM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 13
stranger
Offline
stranger
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 13
Originally Posted By: themilum

The meanings of all words are in a continuous state of transition;
words have no ultimate meanings they only serve a function. ~


Originally Posted By: Maven
The social lie is a critical aspect of society. If you don't think so, try being completely honest with your co-workers. The problem is assuming that communication is based on something infallible--and since it's all based on human constructs, perfection is unrealistic.


Originally Posted By: wsieber
In the chapter "Word against Object" of his book "After Babel", George Steiner has the key phrase: Language is the main instrument of man's refusal to accept the world as it is , and argues at length for the importance of the counter-factual in Language.


All, crimethink.

Language is innocent, and with an innate capacity for infinite beauty. The beauty of languages is in their forms and meanings, independent of their function, whether grammatical or informational. Language is honest, but its use isn't always honest. Rather than a refusal to accept an imperfect world, language is, besides an artifact of inherent beauty, a resource for making a "more perfect" (mutatis mutandi) world.

wsieber #168792 06/21/07 02:29 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
T
veteran
Offline
veteran
T
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
Now really boys, put down your books and think.

The advandage of language lies only in the accurate communication of progressive and sequential cause-and-effect events which postively effect the continuance of the breeding group.

And watch your semantics; "lies" are not "lies" if used for the purpose of instruction or example, and if - and it is a pretty big "if" - there are no semantical conflicts with objective reality, meaning: the objective reality percieved by our senses which are doubled-checked by the congruence of language.

Otherwise you guys rock.


Last edited by themilum; 06/21/07 03:18 AM.
themilum #168796 06/21/07 10:32 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: themilum

The advandage of language lies only in the accurate communication of progressive and sequential cause-and-effect events ...


You oughta know about that.

Faldage #168800 06/21/07 11:46 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
T
veteran
Offline
veteran
T
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,529
Originally Posted By: Faldage
Originally Posted By: themilum

The advandage of language lies only in the accurate communication of progressive and sequential cause-and-effect events ...


You oughta know about that.


Bother to explain yourself, Faldage, otherwise the casual viewer of this board might think that you are being snide simply because you have nothing to add to the subject under discussion.

Last edited by themilum; 06/21/07 12:06 PM.
Page 4 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 442 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5