Langauge Constets (was Natural Semantic Metalanguage)

--- Richard Kennaway <richard@...> wrote:

<snip>
>
> I'm reminded of a series of competitions Edward de Bono set in the
> columns of a long-deceased science magazine called Science Journal,
> back in the 60's.  One of them was to design a language containing
> not more than twenty words.  I remember few details, though, and I
> don't know of those columns being published in a more lasting form.
> But it might be interesting to try the same idea here.
>
> --
> Richard Kennaway
>
It seems like the sponsor of such a contest would have to be careful about
defining just how complete the language needs to be to qualify. Do we need to
be able to discuss abstract philosophical concepts, or is it enough that we can
use the language to command the family dog to do a dozen tricks?

--gary

Reply