No, I would argue that binary originated with mathematics, a binary number
system of zeros and ones. Guess this shows that we have different
backgrounds and experiences!
David
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David Pfeiffer, Ph.D.
Resident Scholar
Center on Disability Studies
University of Hawai`i at Manoa
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Center on Disability Studies....maximizing individual
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On Fri, 22 Oct 1999, Lennard Davis wrote:
> Hi Lawrence:
>
> You wrote:
>
> I >think I hear you saying that a continuum is different to a 'binary'. I
> see a
> >continuum as being a line (rational) between two polar opposites along
> >which lie positions which are relative to both poles. Thus any two
> >positions along a continuum are necessarily binary (specially when
> >looking at two positions). If this analysis of the notion of continuum is
> >reasonable, then I ask, "is there another word which symbolises an array
> >of possibilities or contingencies?" Does the word 'spectrum' do it for
> >anyone? Is it an 'Isomorph
>
> I guess I'd say that a continuum is not like a binary. A binary represents
> an on/off switch. The original use of it was in linguistics where
> phonemes, for example, created binaries. Thus you could say "big" or "pig"
> in which an aspirated phoneme is opposed to a voiced phoneme. You couldn't
> really have something between because that something would not signify. If
> you said something between "b" and "p" the listener would ask you to
> repeat. If you pick two points on a contiuum they are not necessarily
> binaries since they are not the opposites of each other. (Say moderately
> slow and moderately fast on a continuum from slow to fast).
>
>
> Best,
>
> Lennard J. Davis
> Professor and Graduate Director
> Department of English
> Binghamton University
> Binghamton, NY 13902
> 607-777-2770 Fax: 607-777-2408
>
>
>
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