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Joined: Feb 2001
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Max>even the entire Bible is available in Klingon!What a great idea! Do you know where I can find this Bible in Klingon - as a tour guide in the land where the Bible was written, it would be incumbent upon me to have it available in as many languages as possible and be able to quote from at least some of them - I mean, what if I should actually get a tour group of visiting Klingons (not impossible the way things are here these days - they may be the only ones not afraid to come) and they don't understand my references at different sites! Truth is - I don't know Esperanto either - could someone point me to a site that is recommended for better understanding this global language??? Shoshannah wonder what that would translate to in Klingon?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
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You mean to tell me, Max, that someone was actually able to translate all that turn-the-other-cheek, love-your-neighbor new testament stuff into Klingon? I would've thought there were no Klingon words to express such concepts. Live and learn.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
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Posts: 387 |
Of course somebody translated the bible into Klingon. They translated Hamlet also.
jimthedog
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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They translated Hamlet alsoYeah, but Hamlet's useful...
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
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Yeah, but Hamlet's useful...
Not according to half the people at my school.
jimthedog
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stranger
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stranger
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New to this discussion, I have yet to see any mention of power. When the French were powerful, their language was the most important at top-level meetings. When the British Empire existed English took the place of French. Now that the USA is the most powerful country, English is the main world language because of the power of the USA, not Britain. Esperanto has no power behind it, so enthusiasts like me must accept that it will not become the second language for all. But it has a place for all who are interested in international communication on a basis of equality; and these are many. Opponents of Esperanto should first qualify in the language, then test its efficacy by participating for at least two years in some of the very many organised Esperanto meetings held all over the world. Otherwise they do not know what they are talking about.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear David Curtis: I think that the dominance of a language depends on the economic advantages it can offer its speakers. A strong economy makes employment for its speakers, both domestic and foreign, and at the same time makes military power possible. America's military did not become powerful until the economy was strong enough to provide the funds for it.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Welcome, David.
I take your point that no-one can know the full value or internal qualities of a language (such as Esperanto) without tasting it on their own tongue over time. However, I do not think we can therefore dismiss all others' views on such a construction leaving commentary only to those with a vested interest either. That would be somewhat akin to denying me the right to decry murder just because I have never murdered anyone.
I agree with you about the relationship of language and power. Indeed that was one of my early points, in suggesting the almost accidental way in which forms of English have gained such worldwide pre-eminence:
The current state of English as the de facto world language is largely a historical accident of two major world empires having used the same core language. Other peoples now adopt it out of choice to enable their personal needs and dreams.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Just a question. Is it true that Chinese is actually a body of several languages? That provinces in China speak different kinds of Chinese and that members of certain provinces cannot understand the spoken Chinese of others? The reason I ask this is I once knew someone from China who told me he couldn't understand some Chinese speakers. However, he grew up in America, was fluent speaking with his immediate relatives, and had only been to China once in his life. That's where he encountered problems when traveling around the country. His problem may have been isolated.
Anyway, if anyone knows more about this, please post here.
Best regards, WW
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