Piotr:
Gerry, I'm not setting a goal for linguists. Nor am I dreaming of an
utopian world in which everything is permanent and everybody is happy. I
know that countless languages have gone extinct and that it is a
perfectly natural thing to happen. I was just telling you about my
sentiments. As for diversity versus global communication, I'm for both.
Multilingualism is a very natural thing; in fact, it is more widespread
among "primitive" tribes than among educated Western people. You need
not give up your native language in order to acquire a language of wider
communication. Sooner or later virtually everybody on earth will find it
necessary learn English, but I don't envisage that as a nightmare.
Gerry: Yes, we are in agreement. I also favor multilingualism and am
amazed at how many informally educated folks speak several languages.
I'm also amazed at educated folks who speak only ONE language. English
is NOT a bad thing to learn. It's not as melodious as Italian or
Spanish or French for that matter nor as complex as Russian or Latin but
it certainly is not simplistic like Swahili so that folks can utilize it
to convey meaning, conduct discourse (trade too)and fool around in
symbolic language. Although I would much prefer thinking in French, I
haven't done that for some time.
Piotr: But Gerry, it was a public exchange on Cybalist -- a thread of
a discussion in which I was also taking part. I got it with the rest of
my daily mail like all the other members. We're talking out in the open.
I don't mind if people refer to my personally directed postings on the
list; they are meant to be public. If we want to say something in
private, we know each other's e-mail addresses and can do it off the
list. I wouldn't reveal a personal secret entrusted to me in that way.
However, if you feel hurt, I apologize.
My best,
Piotr
Gerry: Thank you for your sensitivity Piotr. Some things are
definitely meant to be "public" and other things are "less public". I'm
sure you understand the differences in word use. But nevertheless, I
accept your gentlemanly apology and wish you the best.
Gerry
-----------------------------
--
Gerald Reinhart
Independent Scholar
(650) 321-7378
waluk@...
http://www.alekseevmanuscript.com