Re: [Fwd: [occidental] Theory and Reality]

Robert J. Petry wrote:
> However, I wonder how many construct their languages based
> on the idea that a language is not just rules of grammar and
> vocabulary. But, a language also has connection to the custom, the
> analogies, &  psychology of the language users?
Me!  Or at least I try.  My vocabulary, for instance, contains many
words which distinguish whether an act is done in a social setting, or
for social reasons, or whether it's done for non-social reasons.  My
favorite example is la'u/kapati'.  Both can be translated as eat, drink,
smoke, take (medicines), swallow, etc.  Essentially, introducing any
substance into the body via the mouth.  However, la'u is used for a
social setting, so that eating and drinking with others, or breaking the
Fast of Womanhood/Manhood (even tho it's done alone, the Fast-Breaking
is the final step to becoming a woman or man), or even breathing in thru
the mouth while speaking is la'u, while an animal or exile eating and
drinking, or a person eating something by himself, or even breathing
thru the mouth while not speaking is kapati'.

--
"It's bad manners to talk about ropes in the house of a man whose father
was hanged." - Irish proverb
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