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Re: I have an opinion!

From:Yoon Ha Lee <yl112@...>
Date:Tuesday, April 3, 2001, 1:27
On Mon, 2 Apr 2001, David Peterson wrote:

> In a message dated 4/2/01 3:51:39 PM, fortytwo@GDN.NET writes: > > << If "conlang", "auxlang", SciFi, CompSci, PoliSci, etc., count as > abbreviations, then so does e-mail. And, if e-mail isn't an > abbreviation, then neither is conlang, etc. >> > > No one person can say whether a conjunction has become accepted; it depends > on what most English speakers think. Most English speakers do NOT have > "conlang", "auxlang", "compsci", "polisci", and many not "scifi". Nearly > everyone has "e-mail", and it's already become a verb. Just because some > condensions were formed the same way doesn't mean they have equal billing, > says I.
True--but if you're in a particular subgroup--in this case, what I would call conlangers--why not use the "jargon"? When I post to this list, it's with the expectation that the majority of the people understand conlang and auxlang. I grant you compsci and polisci might be less applicable, but I think I've only mainly used the former in discussions with other people who are in or near compsci...and as a SF/F writer, I use SF/F instead of the clunkier "science fiction and fantasy" with the expectation that my "target audience," other scifi readers and writers, will know what I mean. <shrug> I would guess that this list represents but poorly "most English speakers" anyway.... YHL