Re: conculture list?

On Fri, 12 Feb 1999, Kristian Jensen wrote:

> There are times when I have felt uncomfortable posting to conlang-L
> regarding issues that are not directly conlang related but more
> conculture related. I have been trying to keep such posts to a
> minimum, but I wish I could have posted more. But now its seems that
> there are a lot more conlangers who are into conculture. Are they
> inseparable? Maybe we don't need a new list, and maybe I shouldn't
> feel uncomfortable posting concultural issues in conlang-L?
I think it's pretty fair to say that language and culture are inseparable,
at least as far as humanity is concerned.  (Any cultures out there without
language?  Any (preferrably natural) languages without any cultural
attachments?  (On earth, that is; not in the heavens!))  Although it's
certainly possible to make model languages outside of a cultural context;
I believe most of us are doing so _within_ some kind of cultural context.
This can be supported by the fact that almost every "how do you all say
this..." post here ends up reflecting in some way the cultures behind the
languages.  For example, some of the Valentine's Day posts indicated that
"love" is not understood in the same way by that language's speakers (I
think this was the 'heart-shaped rose-quartz box' post); and that there
are different levels of "love" which can be expressed (familial,
fraternal, of god or country, etc.).

I suppose there are those who would be miffed a tad if half the traffic
here were cultural rather than language oriented.  But on the other hand,
cultural posts oughtn't be discouraged; especially in light of their
attached constructed languages.  I don't think anyone need feel
particularly uncomfortable in posting about their concultures.

Padraic.

>
> -Kristian- 8)
>