Re: Aesthetic Language Sense

(I think this message from Matt was intended for the list and got
diverted by my "reply-to" address)


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Ed doesn't know everything, but he hasn't figured that out yet.
Please break it to him gently.              edheil@postmark.net
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--- Forwarded Message ---
To: edheil@bigfoot.com
From: Matt Pearson <jmpearson@...>
Subject: Re: Aesthetic Language Sense
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 18:18:27 -0500

>Boudewijn Rempt wrote:
>
>> Well... I'm getting quite wary of the word _all_, used in connection
>> to language. Of course, there is iconicism in sound, with is why I'm
>> not entirely happy with the Denden _kela_ for 'mouse'.
What's wrong with "kela"?  Sounds a lot like "kila", which means
"to be small" in Tokana.  I think it fits the concept.  :-)

Of course, I'm not entirely happy with the Tokana word for mouse,
which is "osek".  But even though "osek" does not really suggest
mousiness (mousey-ness?) to me, it has so entrenched itself that
I couldn't imagine changing it.  That would be like denying reality.
(I guess that's another facet of the concept of 'rightness' in
conlangs.)

Matt.