Context Reference (was Re: The [+foreign] attribute)

> > French people seem rather to keep names for original
> > things and give new names
> > to specialised offsprings, something that I
> > personally find rather logical.
> > Surprising that English is different in that
> > respect...
English speech seems to me as much more based in context. Many specialized
(scientific) words are reused depending on the discipline. Also, younger
Americans with whom I am familiar) tend to pick up language and usage trends
quickly. Think of how quickly the interjection "like" spread. Internet slang
is so much used that sometimes I feel (nearly) compelled to utter "lol" at a
particularly funny moment in a head-on conversation. That, I think, is one
feature that differs between language communities.
Also, if I may point out, the examples used before in this thread (postal
mail, analog watch, etc...) all reflect the period in which one
technological innovation has not replaced another and the two stand side by
side. Linguistically, the new technology may share a name with its
predecessor, and technofiliacs (what a word) will need to clarify the
original.

Enough with overanalized solipisms.

Jake