Re: CHAT: Synesthesia and conlanging (was Re: The Conlang Instinct)

Bryan Maloney wrote:
>
> On Thu, 2 Dec 1999, Grandsire, C.A. wrote:
>
> > whereas we see language simply as a mean to express our thoughts, or
> > even as a piece of art, and so we have the right to create our own piece
>
> Many non-conlangers also look at language this way.
        Yes, but it's rare among monolinguals. And what I meant was considering
language as a piece of art in its structure, not only its sound. Many
monolinguals see the structure of their language as the structure of
their thoughts themselves (and they just can't believe you when you say
that you have a thought you can't translate in your native language,
which happens to me very often).

--
        Christophe Grandsire

        Philips Research Laboratories --  Building WB 145
        Prof. Holstlaan 4
        5656 AA Eindhoven
        The Netherlands

        Phone:  +31-40-27-45006
        E-mail: grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com