Re: Difficult language ideas
From: | Christopher Bates <chris.maths_student@...> |
Date: | Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 9:49 |
> I like that. Reminds me that I need to construct a lot of metaphors
> for my conlangs. They are very barren the way I have them now. I have
> written a lot of poetry without using a single metaphor. Urianian and
> Gaajan poets would probably sneer at me. Got to re-work them a bit.
> But non-metaphoric language sure helps legibility...
I don't believe that a language without Metaphor is even possible. The
very basis of language is metaphor, because the world is (from our point
of view, at least, even if not in absolute terms) infinite in the number
of objects that exist and the number of possible kinds of actions that
can take place. All languages have metaphorical extentions of terms and
constructions from their core meaning on the basis of percieved
similarity, otherwise they could not function.
If you've written a lot in your conlang, I'd suggest that it's not the
fact that metaphors are not present, but rather that you've been using
your default metaphors from your own culture and language and not noticed.
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