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.