Re: [tied] Re: Language and Complexity (was Inuit)

From: Glen Gordon
Message: 3565
Date: 2000-09-04

John conveyed:
>I know that in the case of Australian Aboriginal languages also there
>is no "simplicity" in language because they were hunter gatherers.

Yes, I can agree.

John, who read my previous words too quickly, stated further:
>Given the complexity of early languages, is there any argument that
>languages are becoming grammatically more simple with technological
>progress.... Rather than primitive = simple, maybe we have a modern =
>simple, with reductions in complexity as culture contact increases
>between language groups.

John, didn't you meditate on my point at all? Let's try repeating this: "The
perceived complexity of a language has nothing to do with the culture who
uses it."

I chose my words carefully. I said _perceived_ complexity since the term
"complexity" is heavily dependant on our personal definition. In other
words, complexity is nothing but OPINION - it's one of those immeasurable
things again. How can you say that English, Hindi or Mandarin are
"grammatically simple" - By who's standards??

Despite what reason I've tried to infuse into this topic, you've gone right
back to reducing world languages to an individual simple/complex contrast. I
give up. Carry on, folks.

- gLeN

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