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THEORY: Language tech & conlang survival

From:Sai Emrys <saizai@...>
Date:Wednesday, January 19, 2005, 4:10
Again, a leading quote (inspiration, not argument):

"Now, having read a number of your other posts and essays and etc., I
get the idea that you're not so much interested in designing language
as you are designing language-related technology (e.g., writing
systems, media that are usable in all situations, encryption, etc.).
That's all well and good."

 - on another forum, re. me

I think this is probably accurate. It leads me to another question, in fact.

How do you make a (con)language survive and catch on? What are the factors?

One thing I suspect is that one way to do it would be to introduce
modular bits of "language tech" into natural languages. E.g., create a
evidential construction for English, start using it, and let it
propogate by meme. Likewise for any other useful construction that is
capable of fitting in the existing structure.

Comment?

 - Sai

Reply

Ray Brown <ray.brown@...>