Re: Opinions on English

On Mon, 18 Sep 2000, H. S. Teoh wrote:

> On Sun, Sep 17, 2000 at 07:58:51PM -0400, Yoon Ha Lee wrote:
> [snip]
> > Obconlang: how are units of time handled in conlangs?  And I've been
> > wondering how many natlangs have 7-day "weeks," and what other
> > day-groupings are common.
> [snip]
>
> The only consistent thing between calendar systems of various languages is
> the monthly period. I'm not sure if every culture has a 7-day week, but
> basically, it would be some division of the month. Reason being, of
> course, that moon phases are physically observable; but there isn't any
> physical indication of week boundaries.
That's true.  Hmm.  The main reason I haven't devised a calendar system
to go along with Chevraqis is that I'm terrified that my boyfriend the
physics major will come along, do some heavy-duty celestial mechanics
calculations, get a size for the moons (several really small ones, which
the Qenaren consider "moving stars" and a "moon" that they recognize as
"something different") and planet, density, etc. and tell me my calendar
is completely off.  I wish I knew more astrophysics.  :-/

And I haven't the faintest clue how to calculate tides for a system with
several moons.

YHL