Re: Titanic (was: Naming mp3 players ...)

From: "John Cowan" <jcowan@...>
Subject: Titanic (was: Naming mp3 players ...)


> Arthaey Angosii scripsit:
>
> > >syllables, it can only be a proper noun. Thus, "jakuza" means "lost
> > >lightweight container." I'm stumped at this point; what _proper_ noun
could
> > >"lost lightweight container" refer to? Suggestions solicited.
> >
> > I'm not sure what the lightweight one would be, but its heavyweight
> > counterpart is certainly the Titanic.  :)
>
> The Titanic isn't lost; we know exactly where it is.
But it is _lost_, as we no longer have it.  What isn't well defined here is
the meaning of the root word glossed as "lost".  Is it something that was
once had, but is no longer, or does no one know where it is?  When the
Hindenburg was lost, everyone knew exactly where it was, we just didn't have
it anymore.  When the Titanic went down, it was lost in both senses.  Today,
we know where it is, but it still has been lost.

Or perhaps it means "lost" as in "not knowing how to get to one's
destination".  In that case, the Titanic is definitely lost, as it doesn't
know how to get to New York anymore.  (Or does it?  We'd need a nautical
telepath to know for sure.)