Re: Lingo

On Wednesday, July 10, 2002, at 02:37 , Joe wrote:

>> My dictionary defines "lingo" as:
>> "language, especially one despised or not understood; the jargon of
>> a profession or class"
>>
>> Does Abrigon mean that the 'Celtic' languages are inferior, or that they
>> are jargons kept alive by nationalists?
>
> Methinks you are taking the dictionary too seriously.
No - I'm afraid I didn't make myself clear entirely clear.   I was quoting
the
dictionary simply to affirm what I have understood "lingo" to mean for the
past 50 years or so.   I know the word and I've never understood it to be
a neutral synonym for "language" - at least not this side of the Pond.  I'
ve
always understood it with the sort of meanings I quoted above.

> My definition of
> 'lingo' is simply 'language', and I'm sure that Abrigon thinks so too.
Maybe - but I do find Abrigon's Delphic style difficult to fathom more
often
than not.

> What he means is that the Government is beginning to take these languages
> seriously, and instead of being quite limited to a select few, they are
> becoming more widespread.
'beginning' ?  This began some three quarters of a century ago IIRC.   Your
interpretation iof Abrigon's mail may be correct.  Alas, it was certainly
not mine.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at 10:42 , The Keenans wrote:

> John Cowan wrote:
>
>> Neither.  He just talks like that.  It goes along with being the list's
>> master of misinformation.  At least he doesn't call himself
>> "Morgoth" any more.
Ah, 'Morgoth' - I'd forgotten about him.  Light is now dawning  :)

> I was just under the impression that english is not his L1.
I understand - but I'm pretty it is his L1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at 11:12 , Abrigon Gusiq wrote:

> I use it as a varietion on Lingua.
Well, the word is ultimately derived from Latin 'lingua'.  According to
some,
it is derived from Provençal _lengo_ or _lingo_.  I suspect it's more
likely
to be a corruption of Italian _lingua_ since Italian has supplied us with
one
or two other slang terms in the past.

Anyway, this side of the Pond, 'lingo' tends to have a somewhat derogatory
sense.

> I just find spelling out Language
> alot of times can be a royal pain. And often I end up mispelling
> language due to the nature of the Qwerty keyboard.
So, why not use the long established Conlang practice of using _lang_ as
an abbreviation?  To avoid misunderstanding, I would urge to consider its
use, since:
- it is even shorter than _lingo_ (so takes less time  :)
- it is neutral in tone/ meaning
- its usage is well established on this list & will not be misunderstood.

I'm making this in the spirit of trying to helpful, not to be critical.

Ray.