Re: does conlanging change your sense of reality?

Benct Philip Jonsson wrote:
> RoseRose skrev:
>> I'm personally of the Whorfian persuasion that different languages
>> "cause"
>> different forms of thinking and different thoughts therefore arise.
[snip]

> <RANT length="questionable" irascibility="moderate"
>    inflammability="considerable"> <!-- Be warned! -->
	:-)

> I'm of the opposite persuasion that life
> conditions and culture shape our perception of
> reality and thought- processes, which in turn
> shape language.
As you know, I am in absolute agreement with you. My sig sort of says
so, I think.

[snip]
> procreation!  I don't think you have to be a
> Buddhist (though I am) to think that what
> ultimately conditions thought, language and
> culture alike is the condition of being human.
No, indeed, you do not have to be a Buddhist to think that   :)

[snip]
>
> Basically you can express anything in any
> language:
Yep - if you wish. And the argument that such-and-such language doesn't
have words for this, that or the other holds no water. the language will
do what English has done; it will borrow, re-use old terms and coin new
ones. Where would English be if Greek & Latin hadn't provided handy
quarries from which to mine morphemes and whole words?

To answer the question in the subject line: "No, it doesn't." I think at
my own expense and I continually interfere with language    :)

--
Ray
==================================
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
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"Ein Kopf, der auf seine eigene Kosten denkt,
wird immer Eingriffe in die Sprache thun."
[J.G. Hamann, 1760]
"A mind that thinks at its own expense
will always interfere with language".