Re: Re[2]: [tied] Re: Finnish KASKA

From: Rick McCallister
Message: 54153
Date: 2008-02-26

Depends on what you're prescribing. I see too many
bone heads prescribing non-scientific belief. Social
"science" as such doesn't lend itself to prescription.
In any case, much of science is description, not
prescription. Prescription, when not warranted is a
sure path to fascism.
Languages, by nature, can only be described --unless
you're prescribing Newspeak. Sloppiness, of course,
has its consequences.

--- Patrick Ryan <proto-language@...> wrote:

> I usually go by #1 definitions.
>
> The #2 definition is just another symptom that our
> teachers are afraid to
> teach, and are willing to accept any sloppy meaning
> or pronunciation or
> grammar or vocabulary as 'usage'.
>
> To prescribe something is terrifying to them
> nowadays. To identify ignorance
> might offend the self-righteous ignorant.
>
> Patrick
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian M. Scott" <BMScott@...>
> To: "Patrick Ryan" <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:17 PM
> Subject: Re[2]: [tied] Re: Finnish KASKA
>
>
> > At 10:21:31 PM on Monday, February 25, 2008,
> Patrick Ryan
> > wrote:
> >
> > [...]
> >
> > > We do not "posit" in linguistics.
> >
> > We most certainly do.
> >
> > AHD4 s.v. <posit>, definition 2: 'to put forward,
> as for
> > consideration or study; suggest'.
> >
> > M-W Online s.v. <posit>, definition 3: 'to propose
> as an
> > explanation'.
> >
> > Brian
> >
> >
> >
>



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