Re: How to minimize "words" (was "Re: isolating conlangs")

In a message dated 2/25/2007 3:00:51 PM Central Standard Time,
dedalvs@GMAIL.COM writes:


> The whole point was that "character" doesn't equal the Western
> notion of "word"--right.  The next question, then, is whether or
> not there exists a separate notion of "word", and, if it does, is it
> as important as our poorly defined notion of "word", or is the
> notion of the "character" more important?
>
I think you misunderstand.  "Word" is not poorly defined; it's one of the
words that can't be defined using simpler words.  It's one of the NSM base words.
"Character" is not a base word, nor is anything else to do with writing.

stevo

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