Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id DAA21468 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 2 May 2002 03:35:17 +0100 Message-ID: <20020502022958.61110.qmail@web10102.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 19:29:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Trupeljak Ozren <ozren_trupeljak@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: teleology and language To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk In-Reply-To: <A08A3A42-5D22-11D6-8656-003065A0F24C@harvard.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
--- Wade Smith <wade_smith@harvard.edu> wrote:
>
> >> Try using ancient Greek to tell someone how to build a 747 or
> >> a computer.
>
> It is pointless to try to take one language and use it in
> another environment- language is a function of environment.
>
> You can't use an octopus in a balloon, either.
>
> - Wade
If language is a function of environment, and environment changes over
time, then it stands to reason that language changes over time, right?
Isn't this an evolutionary process?
(and to tell you the truth, there is *a number* of things you could do
with an octopus in a balloon :)(whether they should be discussed on
this list is another matter...:)
=====
There are very few men - and they are exceptions - who are able to think and feel beyond the present moment.
Carl von Clausewitz
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