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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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So same thing for etymology. If the etymology of a word is the tortured trail it has taken to get from an ancient clump of phonemes to the clump of phonemes we use today then no, the phrase untraceable etymology is not an oxymoron, but if it is the map of that trail as it is laid out from written evidence or linguistic SWAGs by trained professionals then yes, it is an oxymoron.
NB: oxymoron is itself an oxymoron.
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hee hee y'all are so predictable. I knew that question would start an interesting, pedantic, esoteric discussion that would conclude the answer is "depends..."  As for the analogy raised of the tree falling in the forest, there is another possibility besides the two mentioned. I remember from the dim dark recesses of my brain and first or second year Philosophy that the illustration comes from the work of Irish Philosopher George Berkely who invented 'subjective idealism' - the idea that things only exist as perceived by sentient beings. But because God is The Being who is always perceiving everything, then yes, the tree falling in the forest with no human being there to observe it still exists, as best and most famously summarised in a limerick written about Berkely's views by Catholic Theologian Ronald Knox: There once was a man who said “God must think it extremely odd that this tree continues to be when there’s no one about in the Quad Dear Sir, your astonishment’s odd I am always about in the quad that’s why this tree will continue to be since observed by, yours truly God
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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yeahbut, what if God fell over in the forest, and no one was there to hear it?
formerly known as etaoin...
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NB: oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. Because... it comes from Gk for 'sharp' plus Gk for 'stupid'? 
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yeahbut, what if God fell over in the forest, and no one was there to hear it? Ah, that's where the doctrine of the Trinity comes in, see! 
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... the tree falling in the forest with no human being there to observe it still exists... I made no mention in my post of human beings: But if you define sound as the interpretation of those waves by something designed to do so (a brain, by way of the ears)... If you are a (Jewish, Muslim, Christian) believer, then God is automatically included, since God created people in his/her image ("...male and female S/He created them...), therefore God has ears and a brain, after some fashion, and would, indeed, hear the tree, assuming s/he was paying attention... I actually shortened my original post before posting, and the part I removed was about the birds and the bees, who might also be there to hear it. All I know is, if a tree falls in the forest and I'm not there, I won't hear it!! LOL! ;0)
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yeahbut, what if God fell over in the forest, and no one was there to hear it? he he he
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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[B]ecause God is The Being who is always perceiving everything, then yes, the tree falling in the forest with no human being there to observe it still exists, as best and most famously summarised in a limerick written about Berkely's views by Catholic Theologian Ronald Knox: Not to mention all the chipmunks and raccoons and foxes and pygmy owls and chickadees and hairy woodpeckers and squirrels and all the other hearing creatures.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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NB: oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. Because... it comes from Gk for 'sharp' plus Gk for 'stupid'? Yup
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
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hee hee y'all are so predictable. Pookie, c'mere a minute--I have something for you...
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