That's all very interesting, Erminia. I hadn't been thinking of it like
that, but I see what you are saying
I used, sometimes, to adopt the "strong A.I. position" with students,
especially when they enthused too much for my fragility over the wonders of
information technology. It's interesting to have something similar done to
me, though in my case there was a degree of mischief.
Yet I cannot help thinking there must be something wrong!
Let's think. Let *me think; you clearly are. Languages renew themselves, but
do they actually reproduce? They seem to split apart over very long periods
of time; and nowadays they tend to be combining... Does that matter here?
It occurs to me that my familiarity with one organism being an ecosystem of
its own comes to me from sci fi. Are there any non-fictional organisms where
there's only one individual?
I suppose one could claim that the language, any language, is constantly
reproducing, minute by minute or faster, the individuals being each idiolect
of whatever the language is, Italian, English...
And all that is based on my assumption that reproduction is a sign that we
may have a living organism
Another idea I've picked up from somewhere is that a sign of a living
organism is that it manipulates its internal environment so that it differs
from the surrounding environment to keep itself alive; so that my body is at
a different temperature to my surroundings, retains water etc...
I think one could make such a claim for language tho I need to think more
about that. (It's difficult to concentrate. I am listening for the gas meter
reader while the wind is banging not just the door but the walls and roof )
Language as a virus. That's Burroughs isn't it?
But, but, but - responsibility. Isn't that a bit excessive? You're not
claiming self-awareness for language, are you; and isn't that needed for
responsibility.?
Certainly, one needs the possibility of doing otherwise before blame can be
attached.
I discovered for sure this week that mice have joined my household. I intend
doing what I can to make their occupation untenable and I am annoyed; but I
don't think I can hold them responsible
whereas I, because I can consider my actions and *choose, must take
responsibility for the actions I take against international mouseism, no
cruel and unusual foodstuffs and all that
So I'm intrigued by your argument, but not convinced that, even if language
can be held to exhibit the properties of a living organism, that is enough
for it to be held responsible
[In all these exchanges i have kept thinking of the _Alice in Wonderland_
idea that you mustn't beat time because Time won't stand it - and will
refuse to change
Thus the Mad Hatter & Co were doomed to its always being tea time
Likewise, I thought, an assault upon language might result in people being
doomed to repeat themselves...
"I told you agitprop wouldn't suit the works"
"It was the best agitprop you know"
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Erminia Passannanti" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 01 February 2002 08:15
Subject: Re: respect for english
| So I see languages as living organism capable to
| inflict pain and scorn, as well as reward and prize.
|