Re: deseret conlangcon '99!

Fabian wrote:

> > > Interesting. In Rightpondia, it's a boink, in Leftpondia, it's a con. Is
> > > this difference Pondian, or am I reading too much into it?
And Adam wrote:

> >         You're probably reading too much into it.
And finally, on Mon, 19 Jul 1999, dirk elzinga wrote:

> Indeed. As I understand it, the usage 'con' harks to the science fiction
> conventions which are held all over the place and often have cute names
> ending in -Con. This usage was adopted by social conlangers who try to
> organize gatherings of like-minded people for an evening of refreshment
> and conversation, and maybe even the creation of a grammatical sketch.
> At least that's what Adam and I are planning.
In my perception a "con" is much too grand a word for only four
people meeting for half an afternoon and an evening (as we did); the
only con I've been to (not counting the Advocacy Gathering, which was
more like a roleplaying party) had a Programme and Guests of Honour
and a Dealing Room. That's what a con is. I'd never heard of "boink"
in this sense before Fabian used it; I *had* heard of it in the
American sense (also without the 'i').

On alt.fan.pratchett, any informal but publicly announced meeting is
a "meet"; for a "con" you have to register in advance, not just say
that you're probably coming.

   Irina

            Varsinen an laynynay, saraz no arlet rastynay.
                     irina@rempt.xs4all.nl (myself)
       http://www.xs4all.nl/~bsarempt/irina/index.html (English)
    http://www.xs4all.nl/~bsarempt/irina/backpage.html (Nederlands)