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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: complaints & perfection
Message-ID: <elnaE6ww6J.Gt1@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <01bc2c8a$4baa6b20$LocalHost@delpozo.redestb.es> <858085198snz@vision25.demon.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 03:54:19 GMT
Lines: 47
Sender: elna@netcom16.netcom.com

phil@vision25.demon.co.uk writes in a recent posting (reference <858085198snz@vision25.demon.co.uk>):
>In article <01bc2c8a$4baa6b20$LocalHost@delpozo.redestb.es>
>           fmartin@activanet.es "MARTN DEL POZO, JOS FRANCISCO" writes:
>> About perfection in a language, every language is perfect,
>> its users are not. 
>
>Nothing is perfect, including lanugages.
>
This is one of those deep words which cause all of us great confusion, 
because its meaning is so slippery and various.  Remember that its
etymology shows its roots in per + facio ==> thoroughly done. For
Aristotle, the concept was simple and reflected a craftsman's art: a chair
is perfect when it is thoroughly done. For Plato and Christians, of course, 
it is much more complex, and means entirely without fault or sin; being in
accordance with an ideal.

Regarding planned languages, many users tend to be Aristotilian, and
simply enjoy using a planned language which is thoroughly done, which the
maker has finished polishing and released for worldwide distribution.
Others are Platonic and search for a flawless language which is completely
in accordance with some ideal of language. These idealists tend to
criticise existing planned languages insofar as they miss the mark of the
ideal.  They also tend to be constantly tinkering with a language project,
rather than *using* a language. They cannot understand why their 
explanations of the sins and faults of various modes of speech are either
ignored or responded to with irritation. Imagine being repeatedly told
that the chair you are sitting in is not a perfect chair, that you are 
using a less-than-perfect computer, or not living a perfect life. Yes,
some even drone on about the imperfections of (un)planned languages.
This is irritating, and misses the point.


Umberto Eco wrote a charming book on this theme: "The Search for the
Perfect Language". He places these linguistic tinkerers in a long line of
folks trying to counteract the effects of the Tower of Babel! 

There are, of course, a few kooks who believe that this is the ideal
goal of Esperanto-- to be the perfect language which re-unites humanity
in a spiritual unity unknown since the time before the Almighty punished
the offspring of Noah who dared build the Tower. Most Esperantists are
not kooks: they have simply discovered that using a planned language
somehow enriches their life or captures their fancy. 
-- 
Miko SLOPER              elna@netcom.com              USA  (510) 653 0998
Direktoro de la          ftp.netcom.com:/pub/el/elna   fax (510) 653 1468 
Centra Oficejo de la     Learn Esperanto! Free lessons: e-mail/snail-mail
Esperanto-Ligo de N.A.   Write to above address or call:  1-800-ESPERANTO
