On 3/15/07, MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com <MorphemeAddict@...> wrote:
> In a message dated 3/15/2007 2:49:52 AM Central Daylight Time,
> lars.finsen@ORTYGIA.NO writes:
> > I suppose one or two here must have noticed Jack Vance. I just
> > finished rereading his Languages of Pao, which took on a new flavour
> > in view of my recent conlanging activity. In it, he endorses the view
> > that the attitudes and behaviour of people are results of or
> > influenced by the characteristics of their language rather than the
> > other way around
> I read that long ago, and I wish I could get a copy.
abebooks.com shows a lot of copies available.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&an=jack+vance&y=0&tn=languages+of+pao&x=0
> You're describing the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Yes, _The Languages of Pao_ is probably the quintessential
Sapir-Whorf story. Delany's _Babel-17_ also deal with
conlangs designed to influence people's thinking, if I recall
correctly; and Ian Watson's _The Embedding_ involves
an experiment in teaching exotic conlangs to groups of orphans
to see what effect they have on their thinking.
--
Jim Henry
http://www.pobox.com/~jimhenry