Re: LUNATIC again

Mathias:
>Bob wrote :
>
> In terms of our duck,
>> we agree that it looks something like a duck, but we haven't determined that
>> it quacks or walks like one %^).
>>
>
>You'd better do, otherwise Lojban is in a plight. Don't take me wrong : I
>don't  criticize Lojban, I just remind you that it is not different from any
>other lang uage in that respect (and respect is crucial :-)
Of course. For Lojabn as well as any other conlang, the proof is in the pudding.
And I discount my own use of the language as well. I after all know what
I had in mind.  I am far more impressed when two people,  neither of whom
worked on designing the language, can communicate using it, and I can myself
recognize that they are following my prescription.  Then it FEELS like a
language. totally indepedent of respect from linguists or other outsiders.

>For example, I might need to use non-linguistic means to
>> clarify intent (like pointing at the objects I am referring to).
>>
>
>Non-linguistic ? What is not linguistic on earth ? what is not legal ? not
>mathe matical ? not emotional ? some definitions please.
Sorry, I have already fouled up with trying to define words precisely. I'll let Matt
or someone else try to define what constitutes linguistic communication
as distinct from non-linguistic.

I otherwise cannot respond to your comments - I admit that I did not understand
most of them.  Should I say that your language did not enable communication
with me?  All the words were ones that I know, and your grammar was undoubtedly
within English colloquial norms.  But there is more to language than this.
Yet still, not all communication occurse via "language" by any meaningful
definition other than a tautological "any means of communciation".

lojbab
----
lojbab                                                lojbab@access.digex.net
Bob LeChevalier, President, The Logical Language Group, Inc.
2904 Beau Lane, Fairfax VA 22031-1303 USA                        703-385-0273
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    or see Lojban WWW Server: href="http://xiron.pc.helsinki.fi/lojban/"
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