Re: Constructed natlangs (Re: Pronounlessly)
From: | Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...> |
Date: | Friday, February 12, 1999, 15:19 |
Orjan Johansen wrote:
> This leaves one to wonder: maybe the clicks in African languages once
> started as a language game as well? For that matter, maybe all languages
> have conlang elements.
Well, in as far as there is no such thing as a totally "natural"
language, I agree. English, for instance, contains elements which were
essentially created by prescriptivists, and *every* language has a
perceived "best" dialect. I suspect that ever language probably has
some prescriptivists, and people modifying their own speach to fit what
they perceive as better. But, I doubt that clicks in African languages
is anything like that, it most likely evolved naturally. Perhaps
starting from co-ordinate stops (e.g., kt --> !).
--
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was hanged." - Irish proverb
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