From: "Håkan Lindgren" <
h5@...>
[HL] > As far as I know, chaos theory is a respected branch of
science. Perhaps it has been unfortunately named, since it doesn't
deal with chaos, it mostly deals with _order_: patterns,
[S] I would say that it deals with unpredictable dynamics of complex
systems by creating mathematical models whose purpose is to explain
their behaviour.
[HL] I fail to see how it could be applied to linguistics or
etymology. Could you give some examples that show how linguistics
would benefit from chaos theory?
It seems to me that language can be described in terms of the theory
of unstable complex systems (chaotic system) because it is by its
very nature unable to resist outside influences and being at least
partly controlled by them (eg the penetration of English technical
terms into majortiy of European languages).
If we can make some sense of cloud formations then we could possibly
also apply the same techniques of how and why language is changing
as I write these words.
The theory deals with all human psychological and social
interactions (hence its application in complex management systems)
and if language cannot be included in that, then I don't know what
can be.
[HL]> I'm sorry if my reply was a little too rough - my intentions
were not to make you shut up. Now and then I delurk with my own
speculations and questions - feel free to treat them as roughly as
you please!
[S] Riding roughshot over other people's opinions is not what I
would consider an acceptable style of discussions. I love to
speculate so I will be interested in your ideas, naturally. Whether
I can comment on them without being told to shut up, that's another
matter. :-)
Stefan